2016 Brussels bombings

=== Belgium ===
[[File:Bruxelles 22 mars 2016 - panneau recommandations.jpg|thumb|[[Digital billboard]] in Brussels. It reads, in French, "Stay where you are, avoid all movement, prioritise communications by text message or social media."]]
[[File:Bruxelles est (re)belle - 22 mars 2016.jpg|thumb|People gathering, chalk drawings and flowers for the victims. The largest message says (translated from French), ''Brussels is beautiful'', with further inscriptions of ''Stop violence'', ''Stop war'', ''Unity'', and ''Humanity''.]]
Air traffic to Brussels Airport was halted after the attacks and passenger flights did not resume until twelve days later, on 3 April 2016, with three [[Brussels Airlines]] flights leaving for Faro, Turin and Athens.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35951454|title=Brussels attacks: Flights resume at Zaventem airport|date=3 April 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=23 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230423034238/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35951454|url-status=live}}</ref> The re-built departure hall partially re-opened on 1 May 2016 with heightened security causing long queues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36187021|title=Brussels Airport departure hall reopens amid long queues|date=2 May 2016|work=BBC|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320223204/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36187021|url-status=live}}</ref> All public transport in Brussels was shut down following the attacks, with major railway stations also closed and [[Eurostar]] and [[Thalys]] journeys cancelled.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20160322-brussels-shuts-down-belgium-terror-attacks|title=Brussels shuts down after terror attacks|date=22 March 2016|work=France 24|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320223201/https://www.france24.com/en/20160322-brussels-shuts-down-belgium-terror-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> Maelbeek metro station re-opened on 25 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20160425-brussels-metro-station-maelbeek-reopen-one-month-after-terrorist-attacks|title=Brussels' Maelbeek metro station reopens one month after terrorist attacks|date=25 April 2016|work=France 24|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320223210/https://www.france24.com/en/20160425-brussels-metro-station-maelbeek-reopen-one-month-after-terrorist-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref> After the attacks, enhanced security measures were introduced at Brussels Airport and in the metro.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/a-year-after-brussels-attacks-whats-fixed-and-still-broken/|title=A year after Brussels attacks, what's fixed and still broken|date=21 March 2017|work=[[Politico Europe]]|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320223202/https://www.politico.eu/article/a-year-after-brussels-attacks-whats-fixed-and-still-broken/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the attacks Belgium raised its terror threat to the highest level of four, lowering it again to three on 24 March 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lesoir.be/32405/article/2016-03-24/locam-baisse-le-niveau-de-menace-terroriste-3-voici-les-nouvelles-mesures |title=L'Ocam baisse le niveau de menace terroriste à 3: voici les nouvelles mesures |date=24 March 2016 |work=Le Soir |access-date=16 April 2023 |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416103904/https://www.lesoir.be/32405/article/2016-03-24/locam-baisse-le-niveau-de-menace-terroriste-3-voici-les-nouvelles-mesures |url-status=live }}</ref> The government expanded the military protection of potential targets, that had been in place since January 2015, to include more soft targets and public places ([[Operation Vigilant Guardian]]).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Lasoen|first1=Kenneth|title=War of Nerves. The Domestic Terror Threat and the Belgian Army|journal=Studies in Conflict & Terrorism|volume=42|issue=11|pages=953–971|doi=10.1080/1057610X.2018.1431270|year=2019|s2cid=116180694}}</ref> Temporary border checks were implemented by Belgian and French authorities at some major crossings on the France-Belgium border.<ref>{{cite news|author1=Julien Absalon|title=Attentats à Bruxelles: des contrôles renforcés à la frontière franco-belge|url=http://www.rtl.fr/actu/societe-faits-divers/attentats-a-bruxelles-des-controles-renforces-a-la-frontiere-franco-belge-7782490459|access-date=22 March 2016|publisher=RTL|date=22 March 2016|archive-date=26 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326091645/http://www.rtl.fr/actu/societe-faits-divers/attentats-a-bruxelles-des-controles-renforces-a-la-frontiere-franco-belge-7782490459|url-status=live}}</ref> The country's two [[nuclear power plant]]s&nbsp;– [[Tihange Nuclear Power Station|Tihange]] and [[Doel Nuclear Power Station|Doel]]&nbsp;– were partially evacuated as a precaution.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/25/belgium-steps-up-security-at-nuclear-sites-in-wake-of-attacks|title=Belgium steps up security at nuclear sites in wake of attacks|date=25 March 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=17 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417155633/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/25/belgium-steps-up-security-at-nuclear-sites-in-wake-of-attacks|url-status=live}}</ref>

The federal government announced three days of national mourning, lasting from Tuesday 22 March until Thursday 24 March, and flags were flown at [[half-mast]] on public buildings.<ref name="nationalmourning">{{cite news|title=Belgium to Begin 3 Days of National Mourning|url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/brussels-airport-explosions-live-coverage/belgium-to-begin-3-days-of-national-mourning/|access-date=22 March 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=22 March 2016|archive-date=23 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323183008/http://www.nytimes.com/live/brussels-airport-explosions-live-coverage/belgium-to-begin-3-days-of-national-mourning/|url-status=live}}</ref> There was also a one-minute silence held at noon local time on 23 March, which ended with spontaneous applause and chants of "Vive la Belgique" at the [[Place de la Bourse, Brussels|Place de la Bourse/Beursplein]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Krol |first1=Charlotte |title=Brussels attacks: Hundreds gather for one minute silence to remember victims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/12202124/Brussels-attacks-Hundreds-gather-for-one-minute-silence-to-remember-victims.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323125902/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/12202124/Brussels-attacks-Hundreds-gather-for-one-minute-silence-to-remember-victims.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 March 2016 |access-date=31 May 2018 |agency=The Telegraph |date=23 March 2016}}</ref> Five days after the attacks, disturbances broke out at the makeshift memorial in the Place de la Bourse resulting in riot police using water cannons to disperse right-wing demonstrators.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35907469|title=Brussels attacks: Police move against 'hooligan' protesters|date=27 March 2016|work=BBC News|access-date=10 March 2023|archive-date=10 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230310000229/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35907469|url-status=live}}</ref>

There was immediate condemnation of the attacks from Belgian Muslim groups such as the League of Imams in Belgium and Executive of the Muslims in Belgium, who publicly condemned the bombings and expressed their condolences to the victims and their families.<ref>{{cite web|title=Les leaders de la communauté musulmane de Belgique condamnent les attentats de Bruxelles|url=http://www.rtbf.be/info/societe/detail_les-leaders-de-la-communaute-musulmane-de-belgique-condamnent-les-attentats-de-bruxelles?id=9248809|work=[[RTBF]]|date=22 March 2016|access-date=23 March 2016|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404004334/http://www.rtbf.be/info/societe/detail_les-leaders-de-la-communaute-musulmane-de-belgique-condamnent-les-attentats-de-bruxelles?id=9248809|url-status=live}}</ref> On 1 April, religious leaders in Brussels gathered together for a memorial to the victims of the bombings. They expressed their desire to spread a religious message of unity throughout Belgium, and to combat extremism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.euronews.com/2016/04/01/religious-leaders-in-unity-pledge-after-brussels-bombings/|title=Religious leaders in unity pledge after Brussels bombings|website=Euronews|date=1 April 2016|access-date=1 April 2016|archive-date=5 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405185427/http://www.euronews.com/2016/04/01/religious-leaders-in-unity-pledge-after-brussels-bombings/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The mayor of [[Molenbeek-Saint-Jean|Molenbeek]], to which several of the terrorists involved in the Brussels and Paris attacks had connections, commenced a clean-up operation with the help of national authorities. Some mosques were closed for using incendiary language and an investigation mounted into nonprofit organizations in the area with links to illegal activities or religious radicalism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brussels-terror-attacks-one-year-anniversary-belgium-capital-bomb-airport-maelbeek-subway-station-a7645406.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/brussels-terror-attacks-one-year-anniversary-belgium-capital-bomb-airport-maelbeek-subway-station-a7645406.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Brussels terror attacks: Scars heal but pain lingers as Belgium marks one-year anniversary|date=23 March 2017|work=The Independent|access-date=26 July 2017|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref> It was found that of 1,600 nonprofit organisations registered in the district, 102 had links to criminal activities, including 51 with links to religious radicalism or terrorism.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/belgiums-molenbeek-home-to-51-groups-with-terror-links-report/|title=Belgium's Molenbeek home to 51 groups with terror links: report|date=20 March 2017|work=Politico Europe|access-date=26 July 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621121426/http://www.politico.eu/article/belgiums-molenbeek-home-to-51-groups-with-terror-links-report/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the attacks two non-profit organisations, Life4Brussels and V-Europe, were set up to help victims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.life4brussels.org/ |title=Life4Brussels |website=Life4Brussels |access-date=22 March 2023 |archive-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322215625/https://www.life4brussels.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://v-europe.org/en_GB/ |title=V-Europe |website=V-Europe |access-date=22 March 2023 |archive-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322215625/https://v-europe.org/en_GB/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 29 March 2016, it was revealed that Ibrahim and Khalid El Bakraoui were released early from prison (in 2015 and 2013 respectively) due to a law introduced in 1888 known as ''Lejeune'', which allows inmates to be released after serving a third of their sentence. [[Minister of the Interior (Belgium)|Belgian Interior Minister]] [[Jan Jambon]] stated that the government had agreed to update the law in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/29/19th-century-belgian-law-allowed-bombing-suspects-go-free/82391856/|title=19th-century Belgian law allowed bombing suspects to go free|newspaper=USA Today|date=29 March 2016|access-date=1 April 2016|archive-date=1 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401052842/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/03/29/19th-century-belgian-law-allowed-bombing-suspects-go-free/82391856/|url-status=live}}</ref>

A report commissioned by the government suggested that Belgium had lost nearly  €1 billion as a result of the attacks with the hospitality and retail industries being especially hard hit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-terror-attacks-cost-belgian-economy-almost-e1-billion-report/|title=Brussels terror attacks cost Belgian economy almost €1 billion: report|date=26 July 2016|work=Politico Europe|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320223201/https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-terror-attacks-cost-belgian-economy-almost-e1-billion-report/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 3 January 2019, a hard disk containing [[autopsy]] reports of victims of the Brussels attacks was amongst items stolen from a [[medical examiner]]'s office in the ''Portalis'' court building in Brussels. A man who had previously been convicted of terrorist offences was charged with the theft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rtl.be/actu/vol-des-rapports-dautopsie-la-chambre-du-conseil-confirme-le-mandat-darret-du/2019-01-09/article/177299|title=Vol des rapports d'autopsie: la chambre du conseil confirme le mandat d'arrêt du suspect|date=9 January 2019|work=RTL|access-date=20 March 2023|archive-date=20 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320224706/https://www.rtl.be/actu/vol-des-rapports-dautopsie-la-chambre-du-conseil-confirme-le-mandat-darret-du/2019-01-09/article/177299|url-status=live}}</ref>