Brussels attacks: Video of 'man in the hat' fleeing after airport bombings released

Brussels: Belgian prosecutors have launched a fresh appeal for help in finding the suspected surviving attacker in last month’s Brussels airport bombings, releasing a video of the escape route taken by the so-called “man in the hat”. Police have been desperately searching for the third suspect ever since he was seen on CCTV next to the two suicide bombers who blew themselves up at the airport in coordinated attacks that also struck a Brussels metro station. A total of 32 people died. [caption id=“attachment_2718408” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File photo of Belgian soldiers standing guard on a road leading to Zaventem airport. Reuters[/caption] The newly released police video shows the man, wearing a dark hat and a light-coloured jacket, fleeing the airport’s departure hall after the bombs went off at 07:58 am (local time) on 22 March. CCTV footage shows him continuing his route on foot towards central Brussels where surveillance cameras lose track of him at 9.50 am. Along the way, the fugitive discards his jacket and at one point appears to be on the phone. “We especially appeal to anyone who might have filmed or think they have photographed the suspect,” spokesman Eric Van der Sypt yesterday told a press conference to present the video. Investigators are urgently looking for the jacket, described in the statement accompanying the video as light “with a hood which is dark inside”. “Should this jacket be found, this might give invaluable information to the investigators.” Potential witnesses are asked to contact the police using a designated phone number and email address. Last week, police asked all residents and business owners in the Brussels region who have external surveillance cameras not to delete any footage from 15 March onwards. Belgian authorities have been criticised for not doing enough to tackle the rise in homegrown extremism, as close links have emerged between the Brussels attackers and those behind the Paris terror assaults in November which left 130 dead. Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group.