(AFP) A defendant on trial over the 2016 bombings in Brussels on Monday charged in court that the suspects were being “humiliated” by draconian security measures and threatened to remain silent unless conditions improved.
Ten men are on trial accused of directing or aiding suicide attacks on Brussels airport and a metro station near EU headquarters that killed 32 people, and which were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.
Mohamed Abrini, a Belgian-Moroccan who decided against blowing himself up at the airport, asked to speak after the presiding judge said Belgium’s largest-ever criminal trial should not be “state vengeance.”
Evidential hearings began on Monday after jury selection kicked off last week.
