“Ibrahim El Bakraoui had the largest bomb in Zaventem,” says Abrini | Interior

The researchers had stated in their presentation that during the attacks in Zaventem, the three terrorists – Ibrahim El Bakraoui, Najim Laachraoui and Mohamed Abrini – each had 30 kilograms of TATP. Ibrahim El Bakraoui was the only one who still had a mysterious backpack with him. According to Abrini, this contained another 20 kilograms of TATP.

Abrini also reiterated that he never intended to blow himself up. “I agreed to some things, but not others. The others thought I was going to do it, but actually that was not the case at all.” Only in the airport itself does Abrini tell the others that he will not detonate his bomb. He said he did this after seeing women and children standing in line. “They were, as it were, double victims: of foreign policy in the West and that of the Islamic State.”

After that, just like Wednesday, Abrini stated that assize chairperson Laurence Massart is “unable to try this case”, partly because she is under “enormous pressure” to satisfy public opinion. Massart then replied by stating that she is permanently appointed and therefore “risks nothing” professionally. “So we don’t experience any pressure on our careers,” it sounded firmly.

Mohamed Abrini said on Thursday that he had wanted to return to Syria “since long before the attacks”. However, according to the investigating judges, Abrini had stated during an interrogation that after Paris he did not know what he could do in Libya and Syria. Abrini in particular received questions on Thursday morning about the events of March 22, as Osama Krayem – who also failed to detonate a bomb but then in Maalbeek – does not want to answer questions.

Chairman Laurence Massart asked him, among other things, whether he was frightened when the bombs exploded. “Of course,” replied Abrini. The chairman then wanted to know whether Abrini was afraid of the explosion or of being arrested by the authorities. “I wanted to return to Syria long before March 22. I went from apartment to apartment after Paris to avoid being caught,” Abrini replied. “I was also planned for Paris, I did not participate there either.”

Chairman Massart therefore asked him whether it seemed acceptable to him to fight in a civil war in Syria, but not to kill civilians here. “I have always been clear about that. What is happening in Syria is legitimate, although I do not agree with everything. Everyone knows that Bashar al-Assad’s father seized power in a coup.” Abrini also stated that the caliphate follows the rules of Islam and that he saw schools, shops and hospitals in Raqqa and said he was also proud of his young brother, who fought in Syria and died there.

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