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24.03.2014
DW.de

Police are still hunting a fourth man wanted in connection with the terrorism attacks in Brussels. Meanwhile, EU ministers are set to meet in order to discuss the fallout from the attacks.

The emergency meeting is set to take place on Thursday in Brussels, as authorities continue the search for a fourth, unidentified man in connection with Tuesday's terrorist attacks.

Three other men have been identified by police: Najim Laacraoui and siblings Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the latter of the two brothers was deported from Turkey last year. Erdogan criticized Belgian authorities for failing to track Ibrahim, who was a convicted robber.

Laacraoui, meanwhile, a known fighter with the so-called "Islamic State" (IS) terrorist organization, is suspected of making suicide belts used by some of the perpetrators in the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.

Last will

Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said investigators had turned up evidence linked to one of the perpetrators in an apartment in the Molenbeek neighborhood of Brussels.

The official said a computer was discovered with a supposed last will from Ibrahim, who said he felt "hunted."

Apparently referring to key Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam, Ibrahim also wrote: "I don't want to end up in a cell next to him."

The fourth man

The man currently being hunted by authorities - seen in blurry surveillance footage wearing a hat and white jacket - was in the airport with Ibrahim and Laacraoui, but managed to flee after his bomb failed to detonate. That bomb was discovered by police and destroyed.

Since the deadly attacks, which killed 31 and injured 300, other officials besides Erdogan have voiced criticism of Belgium's failed security policies. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter urged NATO members to do more to fight extremism in the Middle East.

In response to the fallout from the attacks, EU interior ministers will meet to discuss a coordinated approach to combating terrorism.