Brussels one week on: mayor admits ‘mistakes were made’

Brussels’ mayor has admitted mistakes were made and opportunities missed in preventing the Islamic State terror attacks that left 35 people dead. One week on since suicide bombers targeted Zaventem Airport and Maalbeek metro station, Yvan Mayeur acknowledged shortcomings by authorities but said he hoped the network behind them is being broken at last following a number of arrests. Belgian security services and police have come under fierce criticism for “sleeping on the job” – compounded yesterday when a suspect known only as Faycal C was initially charged over the bombings only to be released owing to a lack of evidence.

There are certainly some analyses to be done on the investigation. Were there mistakes? Did we miss anything? Certainly. Otherwise these attacks would not have happened.

Mayor Yvan Mayeur

Asked whether the Islamic extremist network behind the attacks in Brussels and Paris had been badly damaged, he said: “We do believe that and we hope so.” The mayor is holding special meetings in Paris with the French city’s Mayor Anne Hidalgo for discussions on how Paris reacted to the November attacks. Asked whether life in Brussels was returning to normal, Mayeur said: “There’s no such thing as 'normal’ anymore. That’s a concept we have to revisit." Hidalgo pledged solidarity with Belgium as it begins "a long and painful process of grieving and reconstruction”. Meanwhile, the hunt for “the man in the hat” seen at Brussels airport with two suicide bombing compatriots continues.

Brussels mayor