Najim Laachraoui, who was 24, was one of three men who took part in the Brussels attacks, and prosecutors in France have also linked him to the attacks in Paris in November, saying his DNA was found on a suicide vest and a piece of cloth at the Bataclan concert hall where 90 people were killed. Belgian officials have said that Najim Laachraoui was an expert bombmaker.
In a news conference two days after the attacks, Mourad Laachraoui expressed his sadness about the attacks and the estrangement of his family from his elder brother.
"Our family has the same questions you all have," he said. "He used to be a nice intelligent guy. I couldn`t believe it."
Mourad Laachraoui explained to reporters that his family had no contact with Najim Laachraoui since the latter left Belgium for Syria three years prior to the attacks. Mourad Laachraoui had tried to contact his brother on Facebook in 2013, but didn`t get a response. "I`m not trying to understand. I`m trying to move on and turn the page," said Mourad Laachraoui at the news conference.
More about: