Belgium's Deadliest Peacetime Violence: Six Convicted, Including Paris Attacks' Mastermind, for 2016 Extremist Attacks

A jury in Brussels has found six individuals guilty of terrorist murder for their involvement in the 2016 extremist attacks that killed 32 people, marking Belgium's deadliest peacetime violence.

Among those convicted was Salah Abdeslam, who is already serving a life sentence in France for his role in the 2015 Paris attacks, which were also claimed by the Islamic State group. The verdict was reported by Belgian media outlets including public broadcaster RTBF, newspaper Le Soir, and news websites HLN and Nieuwsblad.

The trial, which lasted seven months, culminated in the biggest trial in Belgium's judicial history. Survivors and families of victims hoped that the trial would provide them with closure and help them work through the trauma of the attacks. The jury, comprised of twelve individuals, made a clear connection between the attacks and the Islamic State group and its extremist ideology.

They determined that the attackers had a clear homicidal intention and premeditation, according to media reports. In addition to the six individuals convicted of terrorist murder, four others facing different charges were either acquitted or had their cases dismissed.

The jury also found that four additional deaths could be attributed to the attacks, including a survivor who took his own life due to mental suffering and another who had to stop cancer treatment because of injuries sustained in the attack.

The morning rush hour attacks on March 22, 2016, at Brussels Airport (also known as Zavantem Airport) and the Brussels subway's central commuter line deeply shook the city, which is home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO. Beyond the 32 people killed, hundreds of others were wounded or suffered severe mental trauma.

Survivors and families of victims gathered at the special courthouse designed for this exceptional trial to hear the verdict. Among them was a man named Frederic, a survivor of the attack at the Maelbeek metro station, who expressed his hope for justice and closure.

Survivors have supported each other through the proceedings, attending court every day. Frederic emphasized the importance of being together and hearing the decision of justice before being able to turn the page and move forward.

Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving member of the Islamic State extremists responsible for the 2015 Paris attacks, was also found guilty of terrorist murder in this trial. His arrest in Brussels on March 18, 2016, may have prompted the other members of the IS cell to carry out the attacks on the Belgian capital.

In addition to Abdeslam, Mohamed Abrini, a childhood friend of Abdeslam and a Brussels native, was convicted of terrorist murder. Abrini walked away from Zaventem Airport after his explosives failed to detonate. Oussama Atar, who was believed to be a possible organizer of both the Paris and Brussels attacks, was convicted in absentia.

Atar is thought to have died during the Islamic State group's final months of fighting in Iraq and Syria. The sentencing for the convicted individuals will take place in a separate process and is expected to be decided no earlier than September.

If convicted, some could face up to 30 years in prison. The jury's verdict and the conclusion of this landmark trial send a signal to terrorists that democracies will stand united and fight against such acts of terror. The wounds caused by these attacks may heal to some extent, but the scars will always remain.