Brother of Brussels Bomber Won Gold Medal in Taekwondo Championship in Israel
by JNS.org
JNS.org – The older brother of suspected Islamic State terrorist Najim Laachraoui — who reportedly carried out this week’s suicide bombing at the Brussels airport and helped plan the Paris attacks last November — is taekwondo fighter Mourad Laachraoui, who came to Israel in September 2015 the 13th Israel Taekwondo Open Championships 2015 and won a gold medal.
The terrorist’s family this week condemned his acts, according to The Daily Mail. The father of the family also expressed concern that the terrorist attack will hurt the professional career of older brother Mourad, who is also on the Belgian Olympic team.
Israel Taekwondo Federation President Michel Madar confirmed to Israel Hayom that Mourad indeed won the gold medal in the 2015 Israeli championships, but could not confirm whether he was indeed the brother of the suspected Brussels terrorist.