Sources: Brussels bomber identified as jailer of foreign IS hostages

(FILES) This handout file photo obtained on March 27, 2016 on the Interpol website shows Najim Laachraoui, one of the suicide bombers involved in the terrorist attacks of Zaventem airport of March 22, in Brussels, also linked to the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris.  Najim Laachraoui, was identified as IS jailer of foreign hostages in Syria, it was announced on April 22, 2016 / AFP PHOTO / Interpol / -
(FILES) This handout file photo obtained on March 27, 2016 on the Interpol website shows Najim Laachraoui, one of the suicide bombers involved in the terrorist attacks of Zaventem airport of March 22, in Brussels, also linked to the November 13, 2015 attacks in Paris.
Najim Laachraoui, was identified as IS jailer of foreign hostages in Syria, it was announced on April 22, 2016 / AFP PHOTO / Interpol /

PARIS, France  (AFP) Friday 4/22/2016 – Najim Laachraoui, one of the Brussels airport suicide bombers, has been identified by several Frenchmen held hostage by Islamic State in Syria as one of their prison guards, sources close to the investigation said.

According to one of the sources, four French journalists kidnapped in Syria in 2013 and 2014 had identified a guard known as “Abou Idriss.”

One of these journalists, Nicolas Henin, “formally identified” Abou Idriss as Najim Laachraoui, said his lawyer Marie-Laure Ingouf, confirming reports in French newspapers.

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