One arrest as Brussels raids target baby-faced suicide bomber’s entourage

Raids in Brussels in the hunt for associates of baby-faced suicide bomber Bilal Hadfi appear to have drawn a blank. Police stormed six homes, mainly in the so-called jihadi quarter of Molenbeek, targeting the “entourage” of Bilal Hadfi who detonated an explosives belt outside the Stade de France. However, authorities said the raids had led to one person being taken in for questioning – described as a “technical arrest”. Police were also said to be looking for clues to the whereabouts of Salah Abdeslam, who is on the run after taking part in the attacks in Paris on Friday.

Well at school he caused problems, he used to steal cars and threaten people…and then, when he became either 18 or 19, he travelled to Syria.

Neighbour of Bilal Hadfi in Brussels

French-born Hadfi was dubbed the “baby-faced terrorist” following his attack on the stadium as France played Germany in a friendly match. The 20-year-old has been described as a difficult and cold child whose retreat into Islamic extremism intensified as his father died of cancer. He has reportedly fought in Syria alongside IS and had been living in Belgium since. Belgium’s security services have been facing criticism following the coordinated attacks in the French capital, which killed 129 people, as at least two of the attackers were from Brussels.

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