The terrorists who carried out the attacks in Belgium on March 22, 2016 actually wanted to hit the Stade de France in Paris. They wanted to carry out an attack there on June 10, 2016, the date of the opening match of the European championship. This is reported by VTM News and HLN Friday, who were able to inspect the indictment of the trial on the Brussels attacks.
About 75,000 people gathered at the Stade de France that evening. President François Hollande was also present in the stands to encourage the French national team, which played once morest Romania.
When the terror group struck in Belgium in March 2016 – with attacks on Brussels airport and Maelbeek metro station that left 32 people dead – rumors quickly surfaced that these targets were in fact just a second choice. The terrorists had acted earlier than expected, cornered by the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, according to conversations found on a computer left behind.
As the indictment states, the terror cell considered a long list of targets. There were also targets in Belgium. The terrorists’ computers reveal that information was sought on nuclear power stations, the port of Antwerp, the Flawinne barracks and the official residence of the Prime Minister.