About: Brussels attacks
Five years on, former PM remembers bombings that changed Belgium
It has been five years since Islamist bombers slaughtered 32 people in the Belgian capital Brussels, in an attack then prime minister Charles Michel says changed the country forever.
Two years after the Brussels attacks, the terrorist threat remains very real
Returning foreign fighters, along with home-grown radicals, are heightening concerns that further attacks could be afoot. Dr. Demir Murat Seyrek and Amanda Paul argue there is room to beef-up security measures without creating a “police state” and maintaining respect for individual rights and liberties.
‘Kamikaze’ bikers linked to Belgian anti-terror swoop
Belgian prosecutors said on Wednesday (5 July) that four people had been detained after automatic weapons were found in house searches in Brussels as part of a counter-terrorism investigation overnight.
Explosion rocks Brussels train station, suspect ‘neutralised’
An explosion rocked the central train station in Brussels yesterday evening (20 June) and a man was shot by police during the incident, prosecutors told Belgian media. He was later reported dead.
One year after the Brussels attacks, the city remembers those lost
Wednesday (22 March) marks the first anniversary of the Brussels attacks, which took over 30 lives and injured many more, shocking the capital of the European Union
EU anti-terror czar: ‘The threat is coming from inside Europe’
A year after the Brussels attacks, Gilles de Kerchove told EURACTIV.com about the fast pace of development of EU security policy, calling for the “systematic use of biometrics” and “batch comparison” of databases in order to boost security in the Schengen area.
One year after the Brussels attacks: How can Europe prevent the next tragedy?
Today's anniversary of the terror attacks in Brussels on 22 March 2016 provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on the challenge posed by jihadist radicalisation and the need for effective prevention policies across Europe, write Alexander Ritzmann and Andrea Frontini.
Mayor of Vilvoorde: Build bridges with youth to avoid radicalisation
Speaking in the European Parliament yesterday (21 March), Hans Bonte, the mayor of Vilvoorde, a municipality sometimes called “the city of Jihadists”, shared his experience on how to avoid the radicalisation of young people.
Belgian government ‘must do more’ to support Brussels bombings victims
One year ago, in a cold basement of Astrid Hospital, Anne Cameron Cain frantically searched for news of her husband. Along with dozens of other families, the Cains were not prepared for the tragic events of that day, which took the lives of both Anne's husband Alexander Pinczowski and her sister-in-law Sascha Pinczowski.
Brussels to mark attacks anniversary with ‘minute of noise’, not silence
Belgium this week marks the first anniversary of the Brussels airport and metro bombings with ceremonies showing the heart of Europe is still beating despite the country's worst ever attacks.
Brussels installs memorial to mark attack anniversary
A Belgian artist is installing a metal sculpture shaped like rising waves near the very heart of the European Union to honour the victims of the militant attacks on Brussels a year ago that killed 32 people and wounded hundreds.
US vice president pledges support for EU and NATO in first Brussels visit
US Vice President Mike Pence appeared to row back on President Donald Trump's statements against NATO and the European Union in his first visit to Brussels.
MEPs adopt new laws to stop foreign fighters at EU borders
Lawmakers strongly voted in favour of new anti-terror legislation on Thursday (16 February), in a move to prevent further attacks as the ones carried out in Paris and Brussels in the past two years.
Belgium prepares to present passenger data plans to rest of EU
In response to a number of terror attacks, Belgium wants greater control over who travels on its trains, buses and boats and will present its plans at the next meeting of EU interior ministers at the end of January. EURACTIV’s partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
Commission says ‘stop free circulation of Kalashnikovs’
Talks on an EU-wide ban on some of the most lethal semi-automatic assault weapons, including the Kalashnikov prized by militants the world over, broke down yesterday (6 December) amid disputes over definitions of firearm types.
Commission battles hostile firearms lobby
One year and hundreds of hours of meetings after the Paris attacks, the EU is still struggling to find common ground on the regulation of firearms. Some hunters and sport shooters have flatly rejected the debate. EURACTIV France reports.
IS terrorists may use car bombs in Europe, warns Europol
Terror networks such as the Islamic State group are evolving their tactics to attack soft targets in Europe, which could see the use of deadly car bombs, Europol warned on Friday (2 December).
European Defence Union: The return of ‘hard power’
The EU is stepping up its efforts on common defence policy and a "coalition of the willing" could quickly deploy EU troops and promote common defence projects. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Prosecutors say Brussels knifeman is terror attack suspect
An attacker stabbed two police officers in Brussels on Wednesday (5 October) in a possible terror incident, the latest attack in a city still reeling from deadly Islamic State bombings in March.
Man with salt and biscuit ‘suicide belt’ sparks Brussels alert
A man with psychiatric problems who was carrying a fake suicide belt full of salt and biscuits was arrested Tuesday after he triggered a major anti-terror operation at a Brussels shopping mall, prosecutors said.
Airport security chiefs question controls outside terminals
Following the terrorists attacks in Brussels on 22 March, airport security chiefs are calling for heightened intelligence cooperation.
EU health chief compares tobacco deaths with terrorism
Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis strongly criticised the tobacco industry on Thursday (19 May), saying it “only kills people”, while expressing his opposition to the renewal of an agreement to counter cigarette smuggling in the EU.
NATO finalises military build-up to counter Russia
NATO foreign ministers began finalising the alliance's biggest military build-up since the end of the Cold War yesterday (19 May), in order to counter what they see as a more aggressive and unpredictable Russia.