PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The terrorists who struck Brussels last month had been plotting a fresh attack in France, but changed their plans as the police were closing in on them, according to reports citing Belgian prosecutors.
The gang whose members allegedly included Mohamed Abrini, the 'man in the hat' Brussels airport bombing suspect now in police custody, switched targets to hit Brussels four days after the arrest of one of its members. The death toll in the March 22 attacks at the airport and a downtown subway station was 32.
Investigators have determined that 'the terrorist group initially had the intention to strike in France again. Surprised by the speed of the progress in the ongoing investigation, they urgently took the decision to strike in Brussels,' the Belgian prosecutor's office reportedly said.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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