Brussels attacks: Suspects intended to hit Paris for second time

BRUSSELS, April 10 (UPI) -- Belgian prosecutors said those involved with last month's deadly bombings at Brussels airport initially intended to hit Paris.

In a statement released Sunday, prosecutors said "numerous elements in the investigation have shown that the terrorist group initially had the intention to strike in France again."

"Eventually, surprised by the speed of the progress in the ongoing investigation, they urgently took the decision to strike in Brussels," the statement said.

The initial targets included high-profile locations in Paris including La Defense, a busy business complex northwest of the city, and an unidentified Catholic organization, The New York Times reported.

This week, six suspects associated with the Brussels bombings were detained by Belgian authorities. Included in the group is Mohamed Abrini, the alleged "man in the hat" from Brussels airport surveillance video taken ahead of the explosions.

On March 22, two suicide bombers detonated explosives at Brussels airport and Maelbeek subway station, killing 32 people and injuring dozens of others. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh, have claimed the attacks.

Investigators discovered the IS-affiliated terrorist cell which supported the Brussels suicide bombings were also connected to those in Paris, which left 130 dead in November. They intended to strike again in the French capital but were thwarted by Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam's arrest earlier this month, officials said.

Abdeslam and Abrini had reportedly been childhood friends and were spotted together in security footage ahead of the Paris attacks.

Abdeslam was arrested four days before the Brussels attacks. He claimed to have backed out of the planned suicide bombings in Paris, according to The Guardian.