Identities of Suspected Brussels Airport Suicide Bombers Revealed

Destroyed windows at the terminal building after explosions at Brussels Airport in Zaventem near Brussels, Belgium, 22 March 2016. Photo: EPA

According to media reports, the two suicide bombers, who blew themselves at Zaventem airport on Tuesday, have been identified as brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui.

The el-Bakraoui brothers have been well-known to police and have reportedly been sought for hiring properties as hideouts for the perpetrators of last year's attacks in Paris.

They are believed to be the two out of three suspects caught on security cameras at the airport before the explosion.

They can be seen wearing black gloves to allegedly conceal the detonators of the explosive devices which are thought to have been planted in their suitcases.

The third man next to them, who is pictured as wearing a light-coloured coat and a hat, is being sought by police as he is believed to have fled the scene after his bomb failed to detonate.

He has been tentatively identified as Najim Laachraoui, who has been declared wanted after his DNA had been found in one of the houses used by the Paris attackers.

Belgian authorities have been conducting a large-scale manhunt for suspects in Tuesday's attacks. During a raid in the northern Brussels suburb of Schaerbeek, the police seized chemical products, Islamic State (IS) flag and explosive device containing nails.

The twin attacks at the departure hall of the airport were followed by an explosion at Maelbeek metro station near the European quarter of Brussels.

According to latest official reports, the three attacks claimed the lives of at least 31 people and left hundreds other injured.

The terrorist attacks come only days after the chief suspect in last year's November 13 attacks in Paris, Salah Abdeslam, was detained during a police raid in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek.

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