Younger brother of Brussels suicide bomber wins gold in European sporting championships

The younger brother of one the Brussels suicide bombers has won a gold medal in a European-wide martial arts contest.

Mourad Laachraoui, whose brother Najid blew himself up in a suicide attack in March, took a gold medal at the European Taekwondo Championships.

The 21-year-old beat Spain's Jesus Tortosa to win the men's -54kg title in Montreux, Switzerland.

Laachraoui said his family were "scared and saddened" by his brother's terrorist activities Credit: Reuters

The sportsman said earlier this summer that his family were "scared and saddened" to learn of his elder brother's terrorist activities. He added that no one in his family had heard from him since 2013.

Najid Laachraoui was thought to have been the bomb-maker for the French terror attacks last November. The terrorist blew himself along with another suicide bomber weeks later in an attack on Brussels airport on March 22.

Mourad Laachraoui is regarded as one of the best prospects in taekwondo, having finished fifth at last year's World Championships and also won titles in the Israel, Fujairah and Alexandria Opens.