The three people that were detained for questioning on Thursday night were Oussama Atar’s mother and sister and a man. They have since been released.

Oussama Atar first fought in Iraq in 2003 towards the end of the regime of Sadam Hussein. He was imprisoned by the Americans after he was caught smuggling arms. While in prison he met Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi the man that founded the terrorist organisation IS. They shared a cell for 9 years.

Oussama Attar is also the cousin of Moustapaha and Jawad Benhattal. The Benhattal brothers were planning an attack on the fan zone on the Rogierplein in the centre of Brussels.

The Federal Judicial Authorities are investigating whether Oussama Attar was the brain behind the 22 March attacks. However the Judicial Authorities are keen to stress that they have no firm indications that a new attack has been planned.