Belgian police release new CCTV in public appeal for 'man in the hat' Brussels attacks suspect

Belgian police have launched a major public appeal for help finding the so-called "man in the hat" Brussels attacks suspect.

At a press conference in Brussels, the federal prosecutor's office showed a series of images giving the closest look yet at the appearance of the suspect, who is believed to have fled the site of the airport attack leaving an unexploded bomb behind.

Police said they had tracked the movement of the suspect across the city in the minutes after the blasts at Zaventem airport, and showed CCTV showing him running and walking at various points.

Abrini says he is this man, pictured pushing a trolley carrying explosives in Brussels airport

Belgian Federal Prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said the authorities "wished to appeal to the public", and were particularly keen to hear from anyone who had photographed or filmed the "so-called man in the hat".

The video released by the prosecutors showed him leaving the airport on foot, walking to the nearby town of Zaventem and then into Brussels, where all traces of him were lost.

The suspect also wore a distinctive white jacket, prosecutors said, but discarded it at some point.

This is the full English-language transcript from the video appeal:

Route of the third offender of the attack in Brussels Airport - Zaventem

"We are requested by the Federal Prosecutor's Office and the Examining Magistrate in Brussels to proceed to the circulation of following warrant:

"Within the scope of the investigation on the attack on Brussels airport on March, 22nd 2016, the police want to find out the route the offender on the run took.

"After the bombs exploded at 07.58 hrs, the man wearing a bright jacket and a hat went out of the building, walked past Sheraton hotel, turned right towards AVIS car park and left the airport area.

"Then, he walked through Zaventem city and meanwhile, got rid of his bright-colored jacket.

"At 08.50, he got to the crossroads between 'Grote Daalstraat' and 'chaussée de Louvain'. At that moment, he was wearing a bright shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

"He walked the chaussée de Louvain up to Meiser crossroads where he was recorded on CCTV footage at 09.42 hrs.

"He walked further on the chaussée de Louvain where he was again filmed at 09.49 hrs hrs, then on the avenue de la Brabançonne where he disappeared at the crossroads with the 'rue du Noyer' at 09.50 hrs.

"The jacket he left behind is bright with a hood which is dark inside. Should this jacket be found, this might give invaluable information to the investigators.

"The fugitive's shirt seems bright blue with yokes on the elbows. He was also wearing dark trousers and brown shoes with a large white sole.

"If you saw a left behind bright-colored jacket between the airport and the chaussée de Louvain, or if you saw the offender while he was on the run or if you know which way he went afterwards, please contact the investigators on 0800 30 300 free of charge (Belgium), or, contact the police on the international number 0032 2 554 44 88.

"Discretion guaranteed."