Explosions hit Brussels airport and metro

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recent explosions at Brussels airport and a metro station, exploring the implications of the attacks, the identities of the suspects, and broader societal responses to terrorism. Participants express their emotions, speculate on the motivations behind the attacks, and discuss the role of media and public discourse in the context of terrorism.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express sadness and frustration over the frequency of terrorist attacks, emphasizing the impact on victims and their families.
  • There are claims that ISIS has taken responsibility for the attacks, with references to reports from various news sources.
  • Participants discuss the identities of the suspects, noting that two were named as brothers with prior criminal records, while a third suspect remains unidentified.
  • Some argue that the attacks may have been rushed due to the arrest of a key figure, suggesting a lack of planning, while others believe there was prior planning involved.
  • Concerns are raised about the role of media in reporting on terrorism and the potential consequences of such coverage on public safety and perception.
  • There are calls for maintaining tolerance and not attributing the actions of individuals to entire religions or cultures.
  • Participants debate the balance between freedom of the press and the need for public safety, discussing the implications of censorship in a democratic society.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express a shared sense of sadness and concern over the attacks, but there are multiple competing views regarding the motivations of the attackers, the role of media, and the appropriate societal responses. The discussion remains unresolved on these points.

Contextual Notes

Some statements reflect assumptions about the motivations and planning of the attackers, which are not universally agreed upon. The discussion also highlights the complexity of balancing public safety with freedom of expression in the context of reporting on terrorism.

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Explosions hit Brussels airport, several killed: Belgian media
http://news.yahoo.com/belgian-media-explosions-brussels-airport-several-injured-072952033.html
By Philip Blenkinsop
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Explosions tore through the departure hall of Brussels airport on Tuesday morning killing up to 10 people and injuring 30 others and a second blast struck a metro station in the capital shortly afterwards, the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF said.

Brussels Zaventem airport and metro hit by blasts
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35869254

Apparent coordinated attacks (to be verified)

Update: Apparently 31 dead, over 100 injured.!
http://news.yahoo.com/live-blog--deadly-bombings-rock-brussels-airport--subway-113702365.html
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
Unfortunately it never ends.
 
Not again :cry:
 
Deplorable. There is never an excuse for the intentional targeting of civilians.
 
Very saddened when I opened the news. Not sure what the solution is here. It's just too easy to terrorize right now.
 
Ver sad news. The frequency of the attacks is becoming unbearable. My thoughts go to the victims and their families and loved ones.

I just saw on the BBC news live update that ISIS has claimed responsibility.
http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-35869266
 
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HossamCFD said:
Ver sad news. The frequency of the attacks is becoming unbearable. My thoughts go to the victims and their families and loved ones.

I just saw on the BBC news live update that ISIS has claimed responsibility.
http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-europe-35869266
Yes - Daesh state claims responsibility for Brussels blasts: Daesh-affiliated news agency
http://news.yahoo.com/islamic-state...russels-blasts-isis-affiliated-152938017.html
"Islamic State fighters carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices on Tuesday, targeting an airport and a central metro station in the center of the Belgian capital Brussels," AMAQ agency said.

Witnesses describe blood, dust and chaos in Brussels attacks
http://news.yahoo.com/witnesses-describe-blood-dust-chaos-brussels-attacks-133659037.html
 
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From The Small Wars Journal

The United States (U.S.) is currently seeking a solution to the problem ‘ad-Dawlah al-Islamiyah fi ‘I-‘Iraq
wa-sh-Sham’ (Daesh; aka ISIS, ISIL, the Islamic State) poses to U.S. security, its allies, and civilization in
general. The answer: recognize and support the state of ‘Kurdistan’. Pick a winner, Kurdistan, and a
loser, Daesh, and give war a chance...


Why Kurdistan?
As political commentator David Webb noted, “If we [the U.S.] take out ISIS, we have Assad. If we take
out Assad, we have ISIS. If we take out both, we have a vacuum.”[3] It’s clear from U.S. leaders, whether
they be executive, congressional, or presidential hopefuls, that U.S. troops on the ground are not the
solution the U.S. is seeking.
...

Author:
Joshua A. Perkins is an Armor officer serving with the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armor Brigade Combat Team at Fort Carson, Colorado. He earned his master’s degree in political science, with a specialization in national security and diplomacy, from the University of West Florida.

http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/kurdistan-the-permanent-solution-to-daesh
 
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Woke up this morning and see this as the breaking headline on yahoo.co.nz. So so sad. :*(

@micromass, are you okay?
 
  • #10
StevieTNZ said:
@micromass, are you okay?

Don't worry. If anything, I hope this doesn't mean that we will single out any single religion or culture as cause for terrorism. We need to keep smiling and remain tolerant and loving towards out neighbour.
 
  • #11
micromass said:
Don't worry. If anything, I hope this doesn't mean that we will single out any single religion or culture as cause for terrorism. We need to keep smiling and remain tolerant and loving towards out neighbour.
How many more attacks would change your opinion on this?
 
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  • #12
Maylis said:
How many more attacks would change your opinion on this?

Considering that my best friends and family are muslims, I don't see how it ever could.
 
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  • #13
Belgian media named two of the suicide bombers as brothers Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui, both were known to the authorities and had a criminal record. They appear to be Belgian citizens, though the names suggest to me a north African origin (Brahim instead of Ibrahim).
A third suspect (the bloke with the hat in the airport photo) was named as Najim Laachraoui and is believed to have been arrested today.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35879141
 
  • #14
HossamCFD said:
A third suspect (the bloke with the hat in the airport photo) was named as Najim Laachraoui and is believed to have been arrested today.
Apparently the third suspect is still on the run and has not been identified. Earlier reports were denied. He had the biggest bomb but it didn't explode.
 
  • #16
The last will of one of the suspects - Ibrahim Al Bakraoui - has been found. In it, he states "not knowing what to do", "wanted everywhere", "not safe anymore", "we risk ending in a cell". From this it definitely seems the terrorists were panicking due to the arrest of Salah Abdeslam and quickly did the attacks. If they waited, more victims would probably have fallen.
 
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  • #17
micromass said:
From this it definitely seems the terrorists were panicking due to the arrest of Salah Abdeslam and quickly did the attacks. If they waited, more victims would probably have fallen.

If this is the case, it's probably a bit more scary actually. If they cause this much chaos with little planning...
 
  • #18
cpscdave said:
If this is the case, it's probably a bit more scary actually. If they cause this much chaos with little planning...

I think they obviously planned this beforehand. But definitely not at this date, and they were in a rush. For example, it has been known that they couldn't bring all the explosives since the taxi was too small.

There have been many press leaks the previous days. I think many of those definitely speed up the process. People should learn to keep silent, and perhaps the press shouldn't report everything they hear...
 
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  • #19
micromass said:
People should learn to keep silent, and perhaps the press shouldn't report everything they hear...
Generally that is difficult to put into practise and follow the values of a democratic society, where freedom of the press is one of its pillars. Censorship, even self censorship, would be frowned upon as it butts up against right of people to know. If one of the outcomes as a response to terrorism is to pursue a course of limited information to the public, prior to an event, during an event, and after an event, then that becomes problematic ( but perhaps managable ). Trouble is, no one can ever predict with certitude the happening of event, or if it ever will, if from one event to another there are direct, strong or weak cause and effect relationships.

There are arguments and counter arguments for the "knowing" and the "not-knowing". Balancing the two on a shifting uneven scale is the difficulty.
 
  • #20
256bits said:
Generally that is difficult to put into practise and follow the values of a democratic society, where freedom of the press is one of its pillars. Censorship, even self censorship, would be frowned upon as it butts up against right of people to know. If one of the outcomes as a response to terrorism is to pursue a course of limited information to the public, prior to an event, during an event, and after an event, then that becomes problematic ( but perhaps managable ). Trouble is, no one can ever predict with certitude the happening of event, or if it ever will, if from one event to another there are direct, strong or weak cause and effect relationships.

There are arguments and counter arguments for the "knowing" and the "not-knowing". Balancing the two on a shifting uneven scale is the difficulty.

I'm all for freedom of press. Freedom of press should never be infringed upon. But the press itself needs to realize that sometimes things they publish have very real repercussions and could cost other people's lifes. It's a delicate balance, I know. But sometimes government secrecy is there for a reason. And the journalists should choose not to publish even though they might have the right.
I know, I'm just posting problems. I'm not proposing any answers since I don't know any.
 
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  • #21
micromass said:
I'm all for freedom of press. Freedom of press should never be infringed upon. But the press itself needs to realize that sometimes things they publish have very real repercussions and could cost other people's lifes. It's a delicate balance, I know. But sometimes government secrecy is there for a reason. And the journalists should choose not to publish even though they might have the right.
I know, I'm just posting problems. I'm not proposing any answers since I don't know any.
Neither do I since it is complex, but I am sure all options are on the table. Although this is a little bit off topic from the actual event in Brussels, it is interesting to see how it does play out and the effect it does have in this area in the pursuit of information just for the sake of information.

I don't think you are actually talking strictly about freedom of the press ( which I did mention ), but dissemination of pertinent information. Freedom of the press is more a non-restrictive movement, asking the questions, and ability to publish. Obtaining answers is another issue.

( As a gross and quirky argument to turn it on its head, what if an edict was issued to never publish any terrorism event. And that all people in the information industry agreed. With no knowledge of any terrorism activity, people would go about their business as happily as can be ( except locally where an event did occur ). Would the terrorists become confounded that their activities are not striking fear in the general population, become disgusted that we are not playing their game correctly, forfit, and just then pack up and go home? Maybe one of the demands would become "Freedom of the press" or we will blow up the XXX. )
Like I said, a bit quirky.
 
  • #22
256bits said:
I don't think you are actually talking strictly about freedom of the press ( which I did mention ), but dissemination of pertinent information. Freedom of the press is more a non-restrictive movement, asking the questions, and ability to publish. Obtaining answers is another issue.

No, I get that. But the situation was that a known terrorist Salah Abdeslam was arrested and interrogated. The results of this interrogation are supposed to stay secret until the trial. Now there were certain leaks and some information was spilt. The press (and other involved people) happily took this information and spread it further. I think in this instance, the press should have been more discrete with this information.
 
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  • #23
Also, apparently the attacks were planned for Easter monday. This might mean there are other terrorist cells planning something for this day...
 
  • #24
micromass said:
... I'm not proposing any answers since I don't know any.
The group sponsoring the attack identified itself, ISIL. The general location and size of ISIL is known. Do you find military action against ISIL unacceptable?
 
  • #25
http://finance.yahoo.com/video/police-capture-main-suspect-brussels-103525393.html

March 23 -- One day after three deadly bombings in Brussels, police have captured Najim Laachraoui, the main suspect in the attacks that claimed at least 35 lives. Bloomberg's Ryan Chilcote reports on "Bloomberg Surveillance."
 
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  • #26
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  • #27
It is unfortunate that Bloomberg may have reported incorrectly.

AFP reports:
A huge manhunt is already under way for a third attacker at Brussels airport, who was seen on security footage with Ibrahim El Bakraoui and a man identified as Najim Laachraoui, but whose bomb did not go off.
http://news.yahoo.com/second-brusse...tified-najim-laachraoui-police-182747301.html

It appears that Ibrahim and Khalid El Bakraoui were successful, and apparently Najim Laachraoui was too, but there is a fourth suspect involved for whom police are searching.
 
  • #28
mheslep said:
From The Small Wars Journal
This is the most sensible piece I have read yet on the ISIS problem, Thanks for linking it. :thumbup:
 
  • #29
http://news.yahoo.com/brussels-attacks-suspect-charged-terrorist-murder-prosecutor-002333819.html
Belgium charges attacks suspect, . . . .
Brussels (AFP) - Belgium on Saturday charged a suspect thought to be the fugitive third Brussels airport bomber with terrorist murder, . . .

Brussels airport suspect Najim Laachraoui arrested: Belgian media (March 23, 2016)
http://news.yahoo.com/brussels-airp...chraoui-arrested-belgian-media-104400309.html

But Laachraoui has also been reported as one of the suicide bombers. He can't be a successful suicide bomber and be arrested afterwards. Perhaps he was unsuccessful?

Italy arrests Algerian suspect wanted by Belgium in terror probe: reports
http://news.yahoo.com/italy-arrests-algerian-suspect-wanted-belgium-terror-probe-223826084.html
Rome (AFP) - An Algerian national wanted by Belgium over a probe into fake ID documents used by the Paris and Brussels attackers was arrested in Italy on Saturday, local media reported, citing police sources.

The suspect, named as Djamal Eddine Ouali, 40, was detained under a European arrest warrant in the southern region of Salerno, the reports said.
 
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  • #30
Brussels attack victims came from Belgium and around world
http://news.yahoo.com/brussels-attack-victims-came-belgium-around-world-170928441.html

Gigi Adam said her 79-year-old father Andre Adam died trying to protect his wife during the attack on Brussels airport.

Adam was a retired Belgian diplomat who had served as his country's ambassador to Cuba, the United States, the United Nations and other countries.

Justin Shults, 30, and his wife Stephanie Shults, had not been seen since Tuesday.

Her employer Mars, Inc., said in a Facebook post Saturday evening that her family had confirmed that she and her husband died in the bombings at the Brussels airport. . . .

They were dropping Stephanie's mother off at the airport and were watching her walk through security when the bombs went off, a family member said.
 
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