Belgium marked the 22 March 2016 terrorist attacks on Sunday, which killed 32 people and injured more than 300.
Official ceremonies began at Zaventem Airport, continued at Maelbeek metro station—another site of the attacks—and concluded at a central memorial in Brussels. Prime Minister Bart De Wever, King Philippe of Belgium, and Queen Mathilde attended the events.
Remembrance events had already begun on Saturday, when a human chain was formed at Maelbeek metro station to mark the tenth anniversary of the attacks.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which were carried out by the same network behind the Paris attacks a few months earlier, which killed 130 people. After retreating to safe houses in Brussels, the attackers launched a hastily organised operation days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the Paris cell on 18 March.
On the morning of March 22nd, three suicide bombers detonated explosives at Zaventem and later at a crowded metro station close to European Union institutions. Following the attacks, Belgium faced criticism over its security failures, particularly after it emerged that authorities had previously received warnings about one of the perpetrators.
Since then, Belgian authorities have introduced major reforms, including expanding intelligence staffing, improving information sharing, and establishing a joint database on extremist suspects. However, the security threat level remains elevated, driven by instability in the Middle East and rising antisemitic incidents in Europe.
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