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EXCLUSIVE - Inside the den of terror: Extraordinary first pictures of the Brussels bombers' secret lair where they built explosives for mass murder

• Extraordinary photos give first look inside bomb-making safehouse where Brussels terrorists planned terror attacks
• Brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui and explosives expert Najim Laachraoui left flat on morning of massacres
• Police found another bomb, ISIS flag, 'chemical products' and suicide note when they raided property in Schaerbeek
• Dramatic photographs show how officers broke down door of the building and have since cordoned it off with tape 
• See more of the latest news on the Brussels attacks and ISIS bombers at www.dailymail.co.uk/BrusselsAttacks

By Hugo Gye and Jake Wallis Simons and Emma Glanfield and Flora Drury For Mailonline

Published: 18:32 GMT, 24 March 2016 | Updated: 20:34 GMT, 24 March 2016

These extraordinary photographs give the first insight into the bomb-making safehouse where three jihadi terrorists plotted to blow themselves up at Brussels airport and on the city's Metro system.

The dilapidated flat in the city's Schaerbeek district was used by brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui and master bombmaker Najim Laachraoui, who killed 31 people when they set off explosives-packed suitcases and suicide vests in the devastating attacks on Tuesday morning.

The images, which were captured in the aftermath of the atrocity when police carried out a series of anti-terror raids in the Schaerbeek area, show how officers seemingly busted a hole in the front door before cordoning off parts of the flat.

Detectives said they discovered an undetonated bomb, an ISIS flag and several 'chemical products' used to build more explosives when they raided the property just hours after the massacres.

U.S. frustration simmers over Belgium's struggle with militant threat

 Politics | Thu Mar 24, 2016 12:25pm EDT

WASHINGTON | By Mark Hosenball

 Reuters Shortly after last November’s attacks on Paris by a Brussels-based Islamic State cell, a top U.S. counter-terrorism official traveling in Europe wanted to visit Brussels to learn more about the investigation.When the official tried to arrange meetings, however, his Belgian counterparts were not welcoming, according to U.S. officials familiar with the events. The Belgians indicated it was a bad time to speak to foreign officials as they were too busy with the investigation, said the officials, who asked not to be identified.