Jewish American Brother and Sister Murdered in Brussels Bombings

NYC_siblings_Sascha_and_Alexander_Pinczowski_among_dead_in_Brussels_terror_attacks_692955143

A brother and sister resident in New York were among those murdered in the bombings at Zaventem Airport in Brussels March 22.

Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski had only just arrived at the airport when two bombs went off at passenger check-in areas near the front entrance Tuesday killing 11 and wounding over a hundred more. The siblings were confirmed as among the dead that Friday.

“We received confirmation this morning from Belgian authorities and the Dutch embassy of the positive identification of the remains of Alexander and Sascha,” James Cain, former U.S. ambassador to Denmark and a spokesman for the family, said in a statement. “We are grateful to have closure on this tragic situation, and are thankful for the loving support, thoughts and prayers from all.”

The siblings were Dutch citizens and were planning to fly back to the U.S.

Delta Airlines confirmed Friday some of its passengers were among those fatally injured in the departures area.

Earlier Friday a senior U.S. official had told NBC News two Americans had been confirmed killed in the attacks but didn’t provide their identities.

Two other Americans, Justin Shults and his wife Stephanie, have not been heard from since the attacks, family members said.

Alexander Pinczowski had been dating former ambassador Cain’s daughter, Cameron. The two planned to marry, Cain said.

The European Jewish Congress released a statement on the two whom it called American Jewish siblings. “Sascha and Alexander are relatives of Dennis Mok from the Jewish community of Amsterdam with whom the EJC works closely on issues of security and crisis management. We send our sincere condolences to Dennis and his family at this tragic time,” the EJC said in a press release.