Documents belonging to the perpetrators of the massacre in Brussels were seized in Rojava. The attackers’ photo albums show that they spent some time in Turkey and have a good relation with this country. From these photos, it can be seen that the attackers traveled from Egypt to Turkey, landed in an airport in İstanbul, and freely traveled in many parts of the city including Sultanahmet and Eminönü neighborhoods. The gangs traveled from İstanbul to Urfa and had their photos taken near Balıklı Göl and other landmarks of the city.

The photos and documents that YPG and SDF forces seized in Kizwan, Hawl, Shaddadi, Tishrîn and Girê Spî are thought to be belonging to Halid or İbrahim El Bakraoui brothers who perpetrated the massacre in Brussels.

IS EGYPT A TRANSITION ROUTE?

According to the photo album, gangs either began their journey in Egypt or used the country as a transition route. The gangs use many different routes in order to reach Syria, Rojava and Turkey. In the photos, gangs can be seen with their backpacks and earphones at an airport. Although some of the photos taken in the airport do not have clear dates, other photos are dated as November 2014. The gangs are not thought to have traveled alone since someone was taking their photos as they were traveling.

The perpetrators of the Brussels massacre are thought to have flown from Egypt because of the EGYPTAIR writings in the photos that were taken inside the airplane. However, it is not clear if the gang began their journey in Egypt or used the country as a transition route.

ARE THE AIRPORTS IN EGYPT AND ISTANBUL A ROUTE FOR THE GANGS?

The gangs continued to have their photos taken after their plane left Egypt, and scenery shots of İstanbul from above can be seen in these photos. The gangs then arrive in İstanbul, and the abundance of Turkish Airlines in the airport the gangs arrive at validates this information.

The majority of the photos taken until İstanbul show one gang wearing a brown scarf and black coat.

MEMORIES OF ISTANBUL FROM THE GANGS’ PERSPECTIVE

From the gangs’ photos, it can be seen that they travel freely in İstanbul and have their own spaces. Many of the photos were taken in Eminönü and Sultanahmet neighborhoods, and the gangs are seen posing with the ISIS sign.

The place in İstanbul where the gangs photographed the most is Lütfü Paşa Mosque. Many gangs are seen with a local in these photographs, and the local’s identity remains unknown but he is believed to be someone working with the gangs.

BUS TRIP TO URFA

A few days ago, we had published documents on the gangs’ transportation from İstanbul to Urfa and passage into Syria and Rojava from Urfa, as well as the names and phone numbers of their couriers. The photos seized by the YPG and SDF show that the gangs traveled to Urfa by bus and had their photos taken near Balıklı Göl and other landmarks of the city. In the photos, the gangs can be seen leaving Urfa and later arriving at their camps in Syria and Rojava.

PERPETRATORS OF THE BRUSSELS MASSACRE?

The last photos in the gangs’ album are taken in jihadist camps, showing that the gangs resemble the perpetrators of the Brussels attack, and prove once again that Turkey is a main point of entrance to and exit from Syria and Rojava for the gangs.