Brussels Police Say At Least 50 ISIS Supporters Are Working At Airport With Access To Airplanes
Police in Brussels claim that at least 50 ISIS supporters are working at the Brussels airport in positions that give them access to airplanes. Though the concerns have been voiced by the police working at the airport, little has been done to keep the potential Islamic State supporters from having access to the airport as the individuals remain employed.
The Daily Mail reports that police officers working at the Brussels airport have voiced security concerns as they claim at least 50 ISIS sympathizers are working at the airport in positions from baggage handlers to catering staff. The police say that these individuals, such as baggage handlers, would have access to airplanes via their badge.
“The officers said they have warned about the terrorist sympathizers whose security badges give them access to planes, but they remain employed.”
In fact, the police are so concerned about the issues that they are threatening a strike until the issues are dealt with and security is increased. The group of Brussels airport police officers feel that security concerns are so great that Islamic State supporters could be planning another attack utilizing the sympathizers employed at the airport.
The concerns were discovered after two of the Brussels airport bombers were reported to have worked as cleaners at the airport prior to the bombing. The uncle of the two ISIS bombers, Ibrahim and Khalid el-Bakraoui, told the Daily Mail that the two brothers had previously worked at the airport as janitorial staff. While Belgian authorities have not confirmed the connection, they did admit they were following the lead.
At least 50 ISIS supporters work at Brussels airport – Belgian media https://t.co/q8vVfwAJD2 pic.twitter.com/bNvzeuRTAQ
— RT (@RT_com) March 31, 2016
In addition to the possible airport employment connection, the brothers were also reportedly on the United States terror watchlist and never should have been allowed to roam unwatched through Brussels. However, the police at the airport say that a series of security failures led to the brothers being allowed to commit their atrocious crime and that something must be done to ensure it doesn’t happen again in the future. The police group also stated that the brothers were not alone, noting at least 50 other Islamic State supporters working in the airport at present day.
“When we checked these people, we were surprised more than once. It was men with a radical ideology and a long police history. Even today, there are at least 50 supporters of the Islamic state who work at the airport. They have a security badge and have access to the cockpit of a plane.”
At least 50 ISIS supporters working as cleaners, baggage handlers at Brussels airport,… https://t.co/JhUEyD4MzB pic.twitter.com/tJzaWzRcFe
— michelekirkBPR (@michelekirkBPR) March 31, 2016
The Brussels police officers claim that while many had their badges revoked after it was discovered that they were Islamic State sympathizers, the group says that people in positions of cleaning staff, baggage handling, and store personnel were not scrutinized as heavily and many ISIS supporters in these jobs were able to keep their positions and security clearances in the airport.
“In the past, a number of people had their badges revoked because they had IS sympathies. But clearly not everyone, especially in store personnel, cleaning services and baggage where we find the most suspicious people.”
As the Inquisitr previously reported, two of the Americans killed in the Brussels airport bombing were the spouses of United States personnel including the wife of a U.S. Air Force colonel.
What do you think about the Brussels airport police group’s statements that at least 50 ISIS sympathizers are working at the airport with security clearance access to airplanes? What more do you think Brussels airport security should do to ensure the safety of passengers and staff?
[Image via Belgian Federal Police/AP Photo]
