Channels

Officials: US feared Brussels attack but lacked hard intelligence

The United States lacked specific intelligence warning of Tuesday's attacks in Belgium but strongly believed that such a strike was possible, particularly after Belgium's arrest last week of a key suspect in the Paris attacks, US officials said.

  

Three US government officials acknowledged that the United States believed an attack by Islamic State in Brussels was possible, if not likely. Still, they were not aware of any US intelligence about where or when the attack would occur. One of the main US lines of inquiry is that even though the attack may represent retaliation for the arrest of Abdeslam, it was likely already in the works before his arrest. Under that scenario, the attack date was already on the schedule before his arrest, and possibly advanced somewhat because of his arrest, two of the officials said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.22.16, 18:50