Brussels connection under spotlight after Paris killings

Features discussing how people with a connection to Belgium have been implicated in a number of international terrorist incidents over the past decade. Why should Belgium and, in particular, the district of Molenbeek in Brussels seem to be a hotspot of terrorist-related plots. Belgium's Interior Minister Jan Jambon said on the 15 November 2015 that the authorities had lost control over this area of the EU capital.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Letter to President François Hollande of France from European Council President Donald Tusk on the attacks in Paris / Joint statement of the Heads of State or Government and leaders of the European Union and its institutions on the terrorist attacks in Paris http://www.europeansources.info/record/countries-rethink-commitments-to-accept-refugees/

Politico, 15.11.15: Why Brussels is a terrorism hotspot http://www.politico.eu/article/why-is-brussels-terrorism-hot-spot-molenbeek-paris-attacks/

ESO: Background information: Belgium must do more to prevent its citizens from joining Islamic State http://www.europeansources.info/record/belgium-must-do-more-to-prevent-its-citizens-from-joining-islamic-state/

Deutsche Welle, 15.11.15: Belgium issues arrest warrant for Paris suspect http://dw.com/p/1H6GT

Politico, 16.11.15: The Belgian radicals’ den http://www.politico.eu/article/molenbeek-a-terrorists-den/

Spiegel Online International, 16.11.15: The Brussels Connection: Why Belgium Keeps Popping Up in Terror Attacks http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/why-belgium-keeps-popping-up-in-terror-attacks-a-1062961.html

Flanders Today, 15.11.15: Man from Brussels planned Paris terrorist attacks http://www.flanderstoday.eu/politics/man-brussels-planned-paris-terrorist-attacks

The Guardian, 15.11.15: Molenbeek: the Brussels borough becoming known as Europe's jihadi central http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/15/molenbeek-the-brussels-borough-in-the-spotlight-after-paris-attacks

EUObserver, 16.11.15: Belgian police hunt Paris suspect in Brussels neighbourhood https://euobserver.com/justice/131133

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 17.11.15: Counterterrorism raids in Molenbeek http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER173389-Counterterrorism-raids-in-Molenbeek

Flanders Today, 16.11.15: Fifth column: Why Molenbeek? http://www.flanderstoday.eu/politics/fifth-column-why-molenbeek

Deutsche Welle, 17.11.15: Molenbeek's notoriety as terror hub precedes it http://dw.com/p/1H6vO

BBC News, 16.11.15: Paris attacks: The Belgian connection http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34830703

Politico, 18.11.15: The Belgian intelligence gap http://www.politico.eu/article/two-paris-attackers-were-questioned-freed-this-year-isil-terrorism-attacks/

EUObserver, 18.11.15: Molenbeek locals counter 'terrorist image' with vigil https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/131153

The Guardian, 17.11.15: [Opinion]: Why are terrorists drawn to Belgium? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/17/terrorists-belgium-paris-attacks

Blog: LSE EuroppBlog, 18.11.15: There is no ‘Belgian problem’ with radical Islam – only a European one http://bit.ly/1l3ptqI

Politico, 19.11.15: [Opinion]: Belgium is a failed state http://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-failed-state-security-services-molenbeek-terrorism/

Politico, 18.11.15: The 12 people and ideas that ruined Molenbeek http://www.politico.eu/article/attack-on-paris-molenbeek-dirty-dozen/

Politico, 21.11.15: [Opinion]: Molenbeek broke my heart http://www.politico.eu/article/molenbeek-broke-my-heart-radicalization-suburb-brussels-gentrification/

Spiegel Online International, 17.11.15: Bad Brussels' Sprouts: Belgium Has Become Center of European Terror http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/belgium-has-become-a-center-of-european-terror-a-1063258.html

The Conversation, 23.11.15: What is it about Molenbeek? The bit of Belgium that was a base for Paris terror attacks https://theconversation.com/what-is-it-about-molenbeek-the-bit-of-belgium-that-was-a-base-for-paris-terror-attacks-51007

---