Belgian terror inquiry into Brussels suicide bombings hears of glitches

A Belgian parliamentary commission scrutinising the March suicide bombings in Brussels and the official response is hearing about numerous communications glitches and the intense confusion sparked by unfounded rumours.

Jo Decuyper, chief of railway police for the Brussels region, told lawmakers a national emergency communications network known as ASTRID didn’t function well, and that some text messages he tried to transmit from his cellphone are still stuck in the “out” box.

Thirty-two people died in the March 22 attacks at Brussels Airport and in the Brussels subway.

Decuyper told lawmakers that police commanders sent him an email shortly before the subway attack that ordered the Brussels Metro system temporarily shut down, but that he didn’t get the message until later because it had been addressed to his personal account.

The email which would have closed the Brussels metro was sent four minutes before the explosion rocked the Maelbeek station, killing 14 people.

He said he only saw the email the next day.

He added that the station needed at least 30 minutes to be evacuated.

Meanwhile, a Belgian court has ordered Mohamed Abrini, the Brussels attack suspect known as “the man in the hat”, to be held in custody for another month.

Four other suspects also had their detention extended, Belgian prosecutors said in a statement.

They include Swedish national Osama Krayem, who Belgian authorities say was spotted with the suicide bomber who attacked the Brussels Metro on March 22.

That morning, Abrini, sporting a hat, was seen with the two suicide bombers who targeted Brussels Airport.