[JURIST] A Belgian federal prosecutor [official website, in Dutch] announced Friday that five Islamic State (IS) members have been arrested in connection with the March 22 Belgium terror attacks that took 32 lives. Among those detained was Mohamed Abrini [SkyNews backgrounder], who is believed to be the only surviving perpetrator of the attack on the Brussels airport. At the press conference, prosecutors hesitated to confirm Abrini as the third attacker however, as one man, Faycal Cheffou, was already detained and later cleared as a suspect in that role. Among the other arrests made Friday was a Osama Krayem [SkyNews backgrounder], who prosecutors believe to have been involved in the Maelbeek subway station attack, the first public recognition that more than one perpetrator was involved. The other three arrested suspects are believed to have played more ancillary or support roles within the IS terror network. Abrini and three others were charged Saturday with terrorism offenses.

The Islamic State [JURIST backgrounder], which has claimed responsibility for the attacks, has been accused of war crimes on a massive scale in Iraq and Syria. IS also claimed responsibility for the November attacks in Paris [JURIST report]. Authorities have reported [USA Today report] that that evidence gathered in three countries shows a “close working relationship” between terrorists who struck in Brussels and in Paris. Authorities have detained at least 11 people in operations in Belgium, France and Germany and have confirmed that one of the suicide bombers at Brussels Airport was the bomb maker related to the two suicide vests used in the Paris attacks. According to US counterterrorism officials, the ongoing police operations suggest [CNN report] that authorities are working towards preventing the next attack; investigators know of additional plots [CNN report] in Europe in various stages of planning.