24 March, 2016
Manhunt underway in Belgium, Romania observes day of mourning
Newsroom, 24.03.2016, 11:59
BRUSSELS – The Belgian police is searching today for a second suspect in Tuesdays suicide bombings in the Brussels metro. The man was recorded by security cameras next to suicide bomber Khalid el-Bakraoui, who blew himself up one hour after the attacks at the airport. There, his brother Ibrahim el-Bakraoui blew himself up alongside another attacker, Najim Laarchaoui. The perpetrators have also been linked to the Paris attacks in November, which left 130 dead. A yet unidentified attacker is wanted in relation to these events, which, according to preliminary counts, have left 31 dead and around 300 injured. This is the third day of national mourning in Belgium. In Brussels, the capital of Europe, interior and justice ministers of member countries held an extraordinary meeting, trying to coordinate a response to the Jihadist threat. The recent events sparked a furious polemic on the degree of responsibility held by security services in the attacks, in spite of mounting pressure on radical networks after the Paris attacks.
MOURNING – Romania is in its second day of national mourning for the victims of Tuesdays terrorist attacks in Brussels. Throughout the country, national flags fly at half-mast, with national radio and television stations adapting their programming. The Belgian Embassy in Bucharest on Thursday and Friday made available to the public a book for condolence messages. Four Romanians were injured in the bombings, but are not in immediate danger.
VISIT – Romanian President Klaus Iohannis meets today in Ankara PM Ahmet Davutoglu on the last day of his visit to Turkey. Also today, the head of state will hold talks with the head of the Turkish National Assembly, Ismail Kahraman. In Ankara, the Romanian official spoke to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The agenda included the refugee crisis, regional security, and bilateral economic exchanges. Before the meeting, speaking for press agency Anadolu, the Romanian president reiterated Romanias support for Turkey joining the EU. Romania and Turkey enjoy a close cooperation in security and defense, as NATO allies. Economically, Turkey is the most important non-EU trade partner for Romania, and fifth overall.
FOOTBALL – Romanias national football team defeated on Wednesday at home, 1-0, Lithuanias national team, in a preparation game for the European Championships this summer, held in France. The match in Giurgiu comes ahead of Sundays friendly that Romania plays in Cluj against standing champions Spain. In the opening match in the Euro, on June 10th, Romania plays the opening game against France, in a group that also includes Switzerland and Albania.
CORRUPTION – The Bucharest Court of Appeals today debates the 30 day preventative arrest warrant filed by anti-corruption prosecutors against Bucharest Sector 2 mayor Neculai Ontanu, on charges of bribery. Also under discussion are arrest warrants filed in the same case against a lawyer and a public servant, suspected of complicity in the bribery and money laundering. Prosecutors took the three into custody Wednesday night.
TENNIS – Three Romanian tennis players are still in the leading group in the WTA tournament in Miami, Florida, with prizes totalling 6 million dollars. Irina Begu (35th seeded in the WTA) qualified to the second round after defeating Greek player Maria Sakkari (131st seeded). The Romanian goes on to play German Sabine Lisicki (37th seeded). On Friday, in the second round, Simona Halep, 5th seeded, faces off against Russian Daria Kasatkina (36th seeded), while Monica Niculescu (33rd seeded) meets Chinese Shuai Peng (664th seeded).
