INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

ISIS Weakening? Bombmaker, Finance Minister Among Those Dead Post-Brussels Attacks

By Effie Orfanides
Published on: 07:30 PST, Mar 26, 2016

ISIS is losing some of its key players following the terror attacks in Brussels. Several of ISIS’ main men have been killed over the past week, which makes many think that ISIS is weakening. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, skilled ISIS bombmaker Najim Laachraoui was one of the suicide bombers inside the Brussels airport last Tuesday. It is widely speculated that Laachraoui had a hand in the Paris attacks after his DNA was found on suicide belts used in the attacks at the Bataclan Theatre and at the Stade de France.

Laachraoui is said to be the man on the far left in the photo below. It is believed that he made (or assisted in making) the luggage bombs that were used at the airport and the ones used at the Metro station that killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds of others last week.

New reports about ISIS members being killed are considered victories for any and all countries threatened by the group. According to CNN, ISIS finance minister Abd al-Rahman Mustafa al-Qaduli has been killed. Known to many as the group’s second in command, this was quite the victory in the war against terror.

“We are systematically eliminating ISIL’s cabinet. The second senior ISIL leader we’ve successfully targeted this month,” said Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Friday. “We’ve taken out the leader who oversees the funding for ISIL’s operations, hurting their ability to pay fighters and hire recruits,” he added.

Although the initial plan was to capture al-Qaduli alive, something happened that caused troops to open fire on the vehicle that he had been traveling in. They were able, however, to confirm that al-Qaduli was killed in that ambush.

Since the Brussels terror attacks, authorities have been conducting raids and taking names. According to CNN, there have been several arrests made in Europe over the past week, some connected to Brussels, others just connected to ISIS.

“At least nine people have been arrested in the past day in Europe. Six people were taken into custody overnight in Belgium. Of those, three have since been released.”

A Brussels bombing suspect identified only as “Faycal C.” has been charged, according to NBC News. It is unknown if this man is one of the two men sought in connection with the Brussels bombings, but he is the first terrorist to be charged in Tuesday’s attacks. Two other men arrested in police raids have been charged with terrorism, but “Faycal C.” is the only one charged in connection with the Brussels attacks.

“A suspect identified as Rabah N. — detained as part of the investigation into a foiled terror plot in France — was charged with participating in terrorist activities, the prosecutor’s statement said. A third man, Aboubakar A., was charged with participation in terrorist activities. The prosecutor’s office did not say anything further about Aboubakar A. — whether he was linked to any specific plot or when he was initially detained.”

Since it is believed that many ISIS members have been residing in Brussels where they have been planning out upcoming terror plots, it is presumed that taking out these people is putting a dent in the organization’s roster. It will also (hopefully) be putting a stop to upcoming terror attacks in and around Europe. Although security is still very high around the globe, it does seem like great strides are being made against ISIS this week alone.

The raids in Brussels will likely continue this week. More ISIS members may be arrested if all goes as planned.

[Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images]

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