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Najim Laachraoui, 24, Bomb Maker for Paris and Brussels Attacks Najim Laachraoui, 24, Bomb Maker for Paris and Brussels Attacks
(about 17 hours later)
One of the bombers who blew himself up in Brussels this week was also the bomb maker who assembled the suicide vests for two of the terrorists who carried out the Paris attacks.One of the bombers who blew himself up in Brussels this week was also the bomb maker who assembled the suicide vests for two of the terrorists who carried out the Paris attacks.
Belgian officials on Friday identified Najim Laachraoui, 24, as one of two suicide bombers who attacked Brussels Airport on Tuesday.Belgian officials on Friday identified Najim Laachraoui, 24, as one of two suicide bombers who attacked Brussels Airport on Tuesday.
They also said he had been involved with making at least two of the bombs used in November to attack the Bataclan concert hall in Paris and the Stade de France in St.-Denis, north of Paris.They also said he had been involved with making at least two of the bombs used in November to attack the Bataclan concert hall in Paris and the Stade de France in St.-Denis, north of Paris.
Here is what we know about Mr. Laachraoui from public records, official statements and an interview with one of his siblings.Here is what we know about Mr. Laachraoui from public records, official statements and an interview with one of his siblings.
Mr. Laachraoui was born on May 18, 1991, in Morocco and grew up in Brussels, the eldest of five.Mr. Laachraoui was born on May 18, 1991, in Morocco and grew up in Brussels, the eldest of five.
One of his three brothers, Mourad Laachraoui, 20, a taekwondo champion, and his lawyer tried to distance the family from Mr. Laachraoui’s actions on Thursday.One of his three brothers, Mourad Laachraoui, 20, a taekwondo champion, and his lawyer tried to distance the family from Mr. Laachraoui’s actions on Thursday.
“Mourad and his family are crushed to learn that Najim is the author of such barbaric acts,” his lawyer, Philippe Culot, said at a news conference.“Mourad and his family are crushed to learn that Najim is the author of such barbaric acts,” his lawyer, Philippe Culot, said at a news conference.
Members of the family notified the police that Mr. Laachraoui had left for Syria in 2013, and that they had lost track of him afterward, Mr. Culot said.Members of the family notified the police that Mr. Laachraoui had left for Syria in 2013, and that they had lost track of him afterward, Mr. Culot said.
“If you had asked his family about Najim, they would have said that, for them, Najim has been dead for three years,” Mr. Culot said.“If you had asked his family about Najim, they would have said that, for them, Najim has been dead for three years,” Mr. Culot said.
Asked how his parents felt when they learned that their oldest child had gone to Syria, Mourad Laachraoui replied: “How would you feel?”Asked how his parents felt when they learned that their oldest child had gone to Syria, Mourad Laachraoui replied: “How would you feel?”
He added that he had no way of contacting his brother. “If I had found him, I would have tried to get him back, to reason with him,” he said.He added that he had no way of contacting his brother. “If I had found him, I would have tried to get him back, to reason with him,” he said.
According to news reports, Mr. Laachraoui attended a private Catholic school in the Brussels neighborhood of Schaerbeek when he was 12 to 18. He studied engineering at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 2009-10, but did not complete a degree. He went on to the Université Catholique de Louvain, where he studied electromechanics in 2010-11.According to news reports, Mr. Laachraoui attended a private Catholic school in the Brussels neighborhood of Schaerbeek when he was 12 to 18. He studied engineering at the Université Libre de Bruxelles in 2009-10, but did not complete a degree. He went on to the Université Catholique de Louvain, where he studied electromechanics in 2010-11.
Mr. Laachraoui did not have a long criminal history. His name was first raised as a suspect in February in a case in Belgium involving a possible jihadist network led by Khalid Zerkani, who was convicted last year for his role in recruiting young men — including Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the architect of the Paris attacks — to fight in Syria.Mr. Laachraoui did not have a long criminal history. His name was first raised as a suspect in February in a case in Belgium involving a possible jihadist network led by Khalid Zerkani, who was convicted last year for his role in recruiting young men — including Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the architect of the Paris attacks — to fight in Syria.
Prosecutors had requested that Mr. Laachraoui be convicted in absentia and sentenced to 15 years; a ruling was expected in May.Prosecutors had requested that Mr. Laachraoui be convicted in absentia and sentenced to 15 years; a ruling was expected in May.
It was not until this week that his identity was widely known by the public. But in September, he was stopped at a police checkpoint between Hungary and Austria traveling under the alias Soufiane Kayal. Driving the rented Mercedes-Benz he was riding in was Salah Abdeslam, who would go on to help carry out the Paris terrorist attacks. (Mr. Abdeslam was arrested four days before the Brussels attacks.) In the car with them was Mohamed Belkaid, an Algerian who was killed on March 15 in a police raid of an apartment in the Forest section of Brussels.It was not until this week that his identity was widely known by the public. But in September, he was stopped at a police checkpoint between Hungary and Austria traveling under the alias Soufiane Kayal. Driving the rented Mercedes-Benz he was riding in was Salah Abdeslam, who would go on to help carry out the Paris terrorist attacks. (Mr. Abdeslam was arrested four days before the Brussels attacks.) In the car with them was Mohamed Belkaid, an Algerian who was killed on March 15 in a police raid of an apartment in the Forest section of Brussels.
Under his alias, Mr. Laachraoui rented a house in October in Auvelais, Belgium, that the Paris attackers used.Under his alias, Mr. Laachraoui rented a house in October in Auvelais, Belgium, that the Paris attackers used.
After the Paris attacks, investigators focused on his suspected role in the attacks. On Dec. 10, they searched an apartment on Rue Henri Bergé, where they found traces of the explosive material TATP and the fingerprints of Mr. Abdeslam and another Paris attacker, Bilal Hadfi. According to members of Mr. Laachraoui’s family, the police also searched their home.After the Paris attacks, investigators focused on his suspected role in the attacks. On Dec. 10, they searched an apartment on Rue Henri Bergé, where they found traces of the explosive material TATP and the fingerprints of Mr. Abdeslam and another Paris attacker, Bilal Hadfi. According to members of Mr. Laachraoui’s family, the police also searched their home.
On Monday, three days after Mr. Abdeslam was captured in Maelbeek, the Brussels neighborhood where he grew up, the authorities asked for help finding Mr. Laachraoui. The next morning, at 7:58 a.m., he blew himself up at Brussels Airport, along with another suicide bomber, Ibrahim el-Bakraoui On Monday, three days after Mr. Abdeslam was captured in Molenbeek, the Brussels neighborhood where he grew up, the authorities asked for help finding Mr. Laachraoui. The next morning, at 7:58 a.m., he blew himself up at Brussels Airport, along with another suicide bomber, Ibrahim el-Bakraoui
The Belgian authorities confirmed on Friday that Mr. Laachraoui was dead, explaining that his DNA had been found on an explosive vest and a piece of cloth found at the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 people died, and on an explosive device at the Stade de France, where two attackers blew themselves up on Nov. 13.The Belgian authorities confirmed on Friday that Mr. Laachraoui was dead, explaining that his DNA had been found on an explosive vest and a piece of cloth found at the Bataclan concert hall, where 90 people died, and on an explosive device at the Stade de France, where two attackers blew themselves up on Nov. 13.