these are the ten defendants
The terrorism process about the attacks in Brussels and Zaventem in 2016 finally started after a false start. These ten defendants are on trial, but only nine of them are physically present.
Oussama Atar
Number ten, the Belgian Oussama Atar, is considered to be the mastermind behind the attacks. He passed away in 2017 in Syria. In principle, all defendants risk a life sentence.
Sala Abdeslam
Salah Abdeslam, now 33, has been freed in Paris to life without the possibility of parole. On the trial of the shooting at his hiding place in Vorst on March 15, 2016, he received approximately 20 years. Abdeslam was arrested on March 18, 2016 in Molenbeek and was therefore in prison at the time of the Maalbeek and Zaventem attacks.
Mohammed Abrini
Mohamed Abrini, now 37, left Paris just before the attacks there. He received a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years. Abrini is the ‘man in the hat’ seen on video at the airport with Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui just before they blew themselves up. Abrini ran away and was arrested on April 8, 2016 in Anderlecht.
Sofien Ayari (photo) and Osama Krayem
Krayem, 30, a Swede of Syrian-Palestinian descent, should have blown himself up in the Brussels metro with Khalid El-Bakraoui, but certainly retraced his steps at the last minute. Krayem and Ayari (29, Tunisian) were sentenced to 30 years in prison in Paris. The French public prosecutor had demanded life imprisonment against the two, but could not substantiate that they also wanted to destroy an attack against Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Ayari was arrested along with Abdeslam on March 18, 2016 in Molenbeek, Krayem on April 8, 2016 in Brussels.
The helpers
The five other defendants had no direct role in the attacks, but helped the network to provide hiding addresses for several suspects. They are Ali El Haddad Asufi, Bilal El-Makhoukhi (photo), Hervé Bayingana Muhirwa, and the brothers Smail and Ibrahim Farisi. The latter two appear as free persons at the trial. Ibrahim Farisi is being prosecuted for murder or attempted murder. He is only on trial for participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.