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Two explosions at Brussels airport Casualties after two explosions at Brussels airport
(35 minutes later)
Casualties have been reported after two explosions in the departure hall of Zaventem airport in Brussels. At least one person has been killed and several injured after two explosions at Zaventem airport in Brussels.
The blasts occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the November terrorist attacks on Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action. Police confirmed at least one death. The French newspaper Le Figaro reported that 11 people had been killed, but this has not been confirmed.
Related: Brussels airport explosions – live updatesRelated: Brussels airport explosions – live updates
Belgian news agency Belga reported that at least one person had died and several people were injured. The explosions took place in the departure hall at about 8am local time, according to local media. There has been official confirmation that the blasts were a terrorist attack.
Social media showed pictures of smoke rising from the departure hall, where windows had been shattered by the blasts. Passengers were seen running away down a slipway from the departure lounge. TV pictures showed people fleeing the terminal, while smoke billowed from the roof of the airport. A false ceiling collapsed, causing lots of dust and smoke. The airport has been closed and people have been advised not to come to the area.
Sky News television’s Alex Rossi, at the scene, said he heard two “very, very loud explosions”. One witness, Gil Durand, told Le Soir that the first explosion took place in the departure lounge, followed by another a few seconds later. “The ambulances arrived slowly, people were evacuated, there was a lot of smoke,” she said. She said many of the injured were wearing uniforms of Brussels airport and Brussels airlines.
“I could feel the building move. There was also dust and smoke as well … I went towards where the explosion came from and there were people coming out looking very dazed and shocked,” he said. Controls have been stepped up at Charleroi airport, about 46km to the south of Brussels. All planes flying to Brussels airport have been diverted.
The federal prosecutor confirmed to Politico that explosions took place, but could not confirm if they were terrorist attacks. Belgium’s interior minister said the country’s terror threat had been raised to its highest level.
The blasts occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the November terrorist attacks on Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.
More details soon …More details soon …