Abrini's "goodbye text" found on computer

Abrini is the so-called "man with the hat", the third terrorist seen on airport CCTV footage minutes before the two blasts at Brussels Airport. He can be seen walking along two other terrorists who were about to carry out a suicide attack. Abrini didn't blow himself up, but walked out of the departure hall as if nothing had happened.

Detectives made a reconstruction of his walk all the way to Schaarbeek. He could later be apprehended, and confessed he was the man wearing the hat. However, at the same time he minimised his role in the Brussels attacks. The text found on the laptop proves the contrary, French broadcaster BFMTV reports.

In a kind of goodbye text or last will - that could be recovered despite his effort to erase it from the hard disk - Abrini reportedly writes that he adopted extremist ideas after his brother's death in Syria in July 2014.

Becoming a member of the terrorist movement IS looked like a normal step. Abrini calls the Paris attackers heroes and is said to have asked his mother for forgiveness. He promises to welcome her in paradise together with his brother.

Abrini has always played down his role, putting the blame on his companions who got killed in Brussels and by claiming he would never hurt a fly. This text puts things in another perspective.