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Casualties after two explosions at Brussels airport Brussels hit by explosions at Zaventem airport and metro station
(35 minutes later)
At least one person has been killed and several injured after two explosions at Zaventem airport in Brussels. Brussels has been rocked by explosions at an airport and metro station, with reports of multiple casualties.
Police confirmed at least one death. The French newspaper Le Figaro reported that 11 people had been killed, but this has not been confirmed. Two explosions struck Zaventem airport and a separate blast hit a metro station near European Union buildings in the Belgian capital shortly after.
Belgian media reported that as many as 13 people were killed at the airport, with 35 injured, and 10 killed at the metro station. These tolls have not been confirmed by police.
Related: Brussels airport explosions – live updatesRelated: Brussels airport explosions – live updates
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. The Belgian state broadcaster said the airport explosions were caused by a suicide attack. All flights were cancelled, arriving planes were being diverted and Belgium’s terror alert was raised to its maximum level. Security was also tightened at all Paris airports.
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. The explosions took place in the departure hall at about 8am local time. 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 advised not to travel to the area.
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. Related: Brussels attacks show how global terror networks act local
Controls have been stepped up at Charleroi airport, about 46km to the south of Brussels. All planes flying to Brussels airport have been diverted. One witness, Gil Durand, told Le Soir that the first explosion occurred 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 added that many of the injured were wearing the uniforms of Brussels airport and Brussels Airlines.
Belgium’s interior minister said the country’s terror threat had been raised to its highest level. Controls have been stepped up at Charleroi airport, about 46km to the south of 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. Rescue workers set up a makeshift treatment centre in a local pub near the entrance to the Maelbeek metro station, not far from the headquarters of the European Union.
Dazed and shocked commuters streamed from the metro entrances as police tried to set up a security cordon. There were no details immediately available of any casualties.
“The metro was leaving Maelbeek station when there was a really loud explosion,” Alexandre Brans, 32, told AP, wiping blood from his face. “It was panic everywhere. There were a lot of people in the metro.”
There has been no official confirmation that Tuesday’s blasts were a terrorist attack.
They 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 …