Nicolas Henin, the French journalist who was for months held hostage by the so-called Islamic State in Syria, writes in the Guardian newspaper that while the Brussels attacks had a lower death toll than those in Paris last November, they have a different significance.

Quote Message: The Brussels attack marks the migration of terror from one country to the next. Suddenly everyone is saying: who is the terrorist, and where will they strike next – the UK? Germany? The Netherlands? The Brussels attack marks the migration of terror from one country to the next. Suddenly everyone is saying: who is the terrorist, and where will they strike next – the UK? Germany? The Netherlands?

But while Khalid and Brahim el-Bakraoui and, reports say, Najim Laachraoui performed their duty to die as "cannon fodder" for IS, Mr Henin says that the unwillingness to kill himself of another militant - Salah Abdeslam, who has been arrested - represents an opportunity.

Quote Message: First in Paris and now in Brussels, he has twice refused to meet his death. Perhaps there are signs of hope in this, for it shows that if there is a weakness in Isis, it is that there are humans in its ranks First in Paris and now in Brussels, he has twice refused to meet his death. Perhaps there are signs of hope in this, for it shows that if there is a weakness in Isis, it is that there are humans in its ranks

Mr Henin says how Europe reacts now will be crucial - but, he says, the omens are not good. Already French President Francois Hollande has, he says, "fallen into the trap" of referring to this challenge as a war.