- Two explosions have rocked Brussels airport, Belgium, in a suspected terror attack
- Another blast is reported on the Brussels metro
- Twenty-eight people have been reported killed while one hundred and thirty are injured
- The explosions come days after Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris attacks in November, was captured
Two bomb blasts occurred in the departures area of Zaventem airport and one on a metro train in apparently coordinated attacks at the height of rush hour on Tuesday morning, March 22. The third explosion reportedly hit Maalbeek metro station, close to EU institutions. The BBC reports that the metro system and airport have both been closed, and all public transport in the city suspended.
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| Two blasts ripped through the departure wing of the Brussels airport |
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| Two explosions were heard at the airport, while another blast rocked the Maalbeek metro station |
The Belgian government has confirmed casualties at the airport and Maalbeek metro station. The figures are currently estimated at 28 dead and 130 wounded. According to casualty reports, Brussels transport officials say 15 died at Maalbeek and media say up to 13 died at the airport. It remains uncertain what the true cause of the explosions is; however, authorities say it was a suicide attack. The whole metro system has been closed. Belgium has now raised its terror threat to its highest level.
According to Belgian TV, one of the blasts in the Brussels airport was caused by a suicide bomber. At the time of filing this report, Belgian police say they have found three unused suicide belts at Zaventem airport. Belgium’s interior minister, Jan Jambon, said on Monday the country was aware of the risk of a possible revenge attack following the capture of 26-year-old Abdeslam.
“We know that stopping one cell can … push others into action. We are aware of it in this case,” he told public radio. The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris attacks, was captured in Brussels.
Earlier on, David Cameron had said he was “shocked and concerned” after at least 23 people were killed by a series of explosions in Brussels. The Prime Minister said the UK “will do everything we can to help” Belgium, as security was stepped up at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick in response to the blasts. Mr Cameron confirmed he would be chairing a meeting of the Government’s COBRA emergency committee later this morning to discuss events in Brussels.
