Mohamed Abrini

Mohamed Abrini

Still from CCTV footage showing Najim Laachraoui (left), Ibrahim El Bakraoui (centre), and Mohamed Abrini (right)
Born (1984-12-27) 27 December 1984
Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium
Status In custody
Nationality Belgian
Known for Alleged involvement in the November 2015 Paris attacks and the 2016 Brussels bombings

Mohamed Abrini (born 27 December 1984)[1] is a Belgian national of Moroccan descent who is alleged to have been involved in the planning and execution of the November 2015 Paris attacks and the 2016 Brussels bombings.[2]

Personal background

Abrini is a Belgian national of Moroccan descent and was a childhood friend of both Salah Abdeslam and his brother Brahim. He was 31 at the time of his arrest.[3] Abrini grew up in Brussels, where he worked in a bakery, earning the nickname "Brioche", before becoming involved in petty crime and then with radical Islamists living in the Brussels district of Molenbeek.[4] His brother was killed in Syria fighting for the Islamic State.[5] Abrini is also believed to have fought in Syria.[6]

Alleged involvement in the November 2015 Paris attacks

During the manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, video footage was recovered, showing Abrini with Abdeslam at a petrol station on 11 November. In the footage, the two had stopped a black Renault Clio at the station.[7][8] Abrini is believed to have driven Abdeslam to Paris on 11 November.[9]

A manhunt for Abrini was launched after his association with Abdeslam was uncovered. Belgian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, and described him as being dangerous and likely armed.[10]

Brussels bombings and arrest

Abrini is "more than likely" the "man in the hat" filmed at Brussels airport shortly before the explosions on 22 March 2016.[11] He was filmed together with the two suicide bombers Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui.[11] Shortly after the explosions, Abrini was filmed walking away from the airport towards the city center.[12]

On 8 April 2016, he was arrested in the Anderlecht municipality of Brussels.[3][13] After being confronted with photographs he admitted he was the "man in a hat" seen on airport security cameras.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ABRINI, MOHAMED". Interpol. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  2. ↑ "Belgium confirms arrest of ‘man in the hat’ at airport bombing". Washington Post. April 9, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Paris attacks: Key suspect Abrini arrested in Brussels". BBC News. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Julian E. Barnes; Laurence Norman; Gabrielle Steinhauser (8 April 2016). "Belgium Arrests Key Suspects in Brussels Attacks". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Paris terror suspect Mohamed Abrini arrested in Belgium". CNN. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  6. ↑ "Who Are Mohamed Abrini And Osama Kraiem?". Sky News. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mohamed Abrini a été vu avec Salah Abdeslam: la Belgique lance un avis de recherche international (photos)" [Abrini Mohamed Salah was seen with Abdeslam: Belgium launches an international wanted notice (photos)]. RTL. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  8. ↑ "Paris Terror Attacks: New Suspect Sought". Sky News. MSN. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Salah Abdeslam phone call leads to fifth arrest in Belgium". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
  10. ↑ Jack Moore. "BELGIUM CAPTURES PARIS ATTACKS FUGITIVE MOHAMED ABRINI IN BRUSSELS". Newsweek. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  11. 1 2 "Paris attacks suspect Abrini Mohamed arrested in Brussels". CBC. Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "New video shows Belgian terror attacker leaving airport". CNN. 7 April 2016.
  13. ↑ Robert-Jan Bartunek; Alastair Macdonald (8 April 2016). "Belgians seize key suspects in Paris, Brussels attacks". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Belgium says Brussels attacks 'man in a hat' found and charged". Reuters. 9 April 2016.
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