Blast rips through Institute of Criminology in Brussels
In the early hours of 29 Aug, a car rammed through three fences of the Brussels Institute of Criminology. Shortly after one of the occupants of the car detonated a bomb close to the laboratories. The institute is located in a northern suburb of Brussels called Neder-Over-Hembeek. Brussels has continued to be on a level 3 terror-alert since the blasts in March 2016.
Molenbeek, Brussels
Molenbeek, in Brussels, has been well known to be a hot bed of jihadism and a breeding ground for terrorists. The horrific Paris attacks in November 2015 were led by an Islamic State veteran from the Molenbeek district. The Belgian Prime Minister conceded in March 2016, "There is almost always a link with Molenbeek" while referring to terror attacks in Belgium and Europe.
Belgians fighting with Islamic State
According to estimates, nearly 470 Belgians have been fighting alongside the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Belgium has a ratio of 45 Islamic State fighters per 1 million citizens, which is nearly twice that of neighbouring France.
Brussels remains on terror alert
On March 22, 2016, at 8 am three blasts rocked through the crowded Brussels airport and the Maalbeek metro station that is in the vicinity of prominent EU institutions. A total of 31 people were killed and many more were injured. Since then dozens of possible suspects have been arrested and include several who were plotting future attacks.
What we know so far
At the time of the explosion, the building was empty and no injuries or casualties have been reported yet. The laboratories, however, caught fire since the bomb was detonated close to it. Information has yet to be released by local enforcement agencies as to the whereabouts of the suspects.
