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Brussels attacks: Isis flag and nail bomb found in raid – live | Brussels attacks: Isis flag and nail bomb found in raid – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
8.51pm GMT | |
20:51 | |
More details have emerged about the Americans hurt in the bomb blasts that killed 31 and wounded more than 200 people today. | |
An US air force officer, his wife and four children were injured in the attack at the Brussels airport, US officials said. European Command officials would not release details of the injuries to the Air Force officer or his family, due to privacy concerns, but officials confirmed the officer was a lieutenant colonel, and that he and his family were injured at the attacks in the airport. | |
This comes as US authorities are set to bolster security at American airports and other transit hubs in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, despite officials saying they do not have credible intelligence about terrorism in the United States, write Spencer Ackerman and Amanda Holpuch: | |
The Transportation Security Administration will send additional personnel and security measures “to major city airports in the United States, and at various rail and transit stations around the country”, announced Jeh Johnson, the US secretary of homeland security, who called it a “precautionary measure” rather than a response to a specific threat. | |
Johnson said his department, tasked with preventing or mitigating domestic terrorism, will monitor attempts by what he called “individuals of suspicion” to travel from Belgium to the US. | |
More here: | |
Related: US airports to see increased security after Brussels attacks, officials say | |
8.43pm GMT | |
20:43 | |
Paul Nolan | |
For the aftermath of a terrorist atrocity, there was a surprising amount of laughter at the Zaventem crisis centre, writes Paul Nolan. | |
Those at the makeshift structure – a sports hall near Brussels airport – were the lucky ones, and they were counting their blessings. | |
Amid the hundreds of stranded passengers, Ian Boag, a a retired Briton who used to work at the European commission, said he had been in the departures hall when one of the blasts detonated. He said he hit the floor after hearing the blast and assumed it was a bomb. Last night he said he felt “homeless and undocumented”, but was relieved to be alive. | |
People in Zaventem yesterday were banding together. Officials toured the sports centre with signs offering travel to various cities, handing out apples, waffles and water. | |
Henry Dewespelaere, a 22-year-old butcher, was one of a team of local volunteers in fluorescent yellow vests compiling lists of the passengers’ names and nationalities. | |
Thierry de Valck, a 43-year-old telecommunications operator from Zaventem, was another, offering free taxi rides to survivors. He said he had come to help after hearing that volunteers were needed on the radio. He was working from the morning and by yesterday afternoon had ferried dozens of people to various locations in Belgium except Brussels, which was gridlocked. | |
Not everyone, though, could be so easily helped. Sixteen-year-old Fazillah, traveling from Mumbai to Newark on Jet Airways with a stopover in Brussels with her younger sister and mother, said she was waiting for her father to pick her up. The family said they were unaware of the security situation in Brussels and had never heard of Salah Abdeslam. | |
Nico and Isabelle, a young Franco-Belgian couple, were figuring out what to do next. They had planned a skiing trip and had boarded a flight to Geneva before being evacuated. Nico said he had been alerted to the blasts by a crowd of distraught people near the duty-free area and was ushered away into a secure location. Despite the commotion, the couple were told to board their flight- only for the aeroplane to sit on the runway for nearly an hour, at which point the pilot confirmed the blasts and passengers were evacuated to an airport hangar before being transported to the crisis centre. | |
8.32pm GMT | |
20:32 | |
Belgian PM Charles Michel joined crowds gathered at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels tonight, to light a candle in memory of Tuesday’s attack victims. | |
A makeshift memorial has popped up in the heart of the city, with messages of condolence, outrage and love by people from around the world written in chalk on the pavement where the lit candles were placed. | |
Some among the crowd broke out into an impromptu rendition of Imagine by John Lennon. Others stood in sombre silence as teams of armed police officers stood by in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist atrocity. | |
Updated | |
at 8.35pm GMT | |
8.19pm GMT | 8.19pm GMT |
20:19 | 20:19 |
The Belgian Crisis Center has said that schools will be open tomorrow in Brussels. | The Belgian Crisis Center has said that schools will be open tomorrow in Brussels. |
At this moment everything looks forward that the schools will be open tomorrow #Brussels | At this moment everything looks forward that the schools will be open tomorrow #Brussels |
The center also put out an FAQ in English here (.pdf). Included an explanation of what threat level 4 means and information on travel on security. | The center also put out an FAQ in English here (.pdf). Included an explanation of what threat level 4 means and information on travel on security. |
8.08pm GMT | 8.08pm GMT |
20:08 | 20:08 |
Belgium’s interior minister, Jan Jambon, has told RTL TV that authorities knew that some kind of extremist act was being prepared in Europe but that they were surprised by the scale of the attacks in Brussels. | Belgium’s interior minister, Jan Jambon, has told RTL TV that authorities knew that some kind of extremist act was being prepared in Europe but that they were surprised by the scale of the attacks in Brussels. |
Jambon said on Tuesday that “it was always possible that more attacks could happen but we never could have imagined something of this scale”. Jambon said that “we had no information about this, but we know that things were moving in Europe, in different countries, in France, in Germany, here”. | Jambon said on Tuesday that “it was always possible that more attacks could happen but we never could have imagined something of this scale”. Jambon said that “we had no information about this, but we know that things were moving in Europe, in different countries, in France, in Germany, here”. |
He said the Belgian authorities have no information about the planning of “any kind of action in Brussels at this time”. | He said the Belgian authorities have no information about the planning of “any kind of action in Brussels at this time”. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.20pm GMT | at 8.20pm GMT |
8.01pm GMT | 8.01pm GMT |
20:01 | 20:01 |
Update: 31 dead and 250 wounded | Update: 31 dead and 250 wounded |
The Belgian health minister, Maggie De Block, has just spoken to Belgian broadcaster VTM and said there were 250 injured and 31 dead. Eleven were killed at Brussels airport and 20 at Maelbeek metro station. | The Belgian health minister, Maggie De Block, has just spoken to Belgian broadcaster VTM and said there were 250 injured and 31 dead. Eleven were killed at Brussels airport and 20 at Maelbeek metro station. |
There have been several conflicting reports on the numbers of dead and injured from both attacks. We will use De Block’s numbers until the next official update. | There have been several conflicting reports on the numbers of dead and injured from both attacks. We will use De Block’s numbers until the next official update. |
The Belgian authorities have opened an emergency phone line: +32 2 506 711. | The Belgian authorities have opened an emergency phone line: +32 2 506 711. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.13pm GMT | at 8.13pm GMT |
7.42pm GMT | 7.42pm GMT |
19:42 | 19:42 |
The Brussels government has invited the Belgian population to observe a minute of silence, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12pm. | The Brussels government has invited the Belgian population to observe a minute of silence, tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12pm. |
7.37pm GMT | 7.37pm GMT |
19:37 | 19:37 |
French PM Manuel Valls will visit #Brussels on Wed as planned, will also see Belgian PM to show solidarity, as well as planned meeting at EC | French PM Manuel Valls will visit #Brussels on Wed as planned, will also see Belgian PM to show solidarity, as well as planned meeting at EC |
7.30pm GMT | 7.30pm GMT |
19:30 | 19:30 |
The military hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek in northern Brussels has been treating victims of Tuesday’s attacks. Here is an x-ray of a person’s chest, which shows a big nail or screw. | The military hospital in Neder-over-Heembeek in northern Brussels has been treating victims of Tuesday’s attacks. Here is an x-ray of a person’s chest, which shows a big nail or screw. |
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office this afternoon said that a bomb with nails in was discovered during the raids on Schaerbeek. | The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office this afternoon said that a bomb with nails in was discovered during the raids on Schaerbeek. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.15pm GMT | at 8.15pm GMT |
7.13pm GMT | 7.13pm GMT |
19:13 | 19:13 |
Belgian news organisation RTBF has spoken with Christian Delhasse, who was driving the train that came under attack in Maelbeek: | Belgian news organisation RTBF has spoken with Christian Delhasse, who was driving the train that came under attack in Maelbeek: |
It was 9.15am when the bomb went off. We are on lines 1-5, and the train starts up again towards Arts-Loi when the bomb went off. The conductor immediately stopped his train and its three carriages, thinking at first that it was a technical problem. He quickly realised however that it was much worse. Christian wasn’t injured and immediately went to check on his passengers: | It was 9.15am when the bomb went off. We are on lines 1-5, and the train starts up again towards Arts-Loi when the bomb went off. The conductor immediately stopped his train and its three carriages, thinking at first that it was a technical problem. He quickly realised however that it was much worse. Christian wasn’t injured and immediately went to check on his passengers: |
“I did what I had to do,” Delhasse told RTBF. “Nothing happened to me, not a single wound. I immediately followed the protocols, that’s all I can say.” | “I did what I had to do,” Delhasse told RTBF. “Nothing happened to me, not a single wound. I immediately followed the protocols, that’s all I can say.” |
Delhasse, a Brussels resident, is in intense psychological shock. “Seeing bodies on the floor, it marks you.” | Delhasse, a Brussels resident, is in intense psychological shock. “Seeing bodies on the floor, it marks you.” |
Read the full report here (in French). via RTBF reporter Karim Fadoul | Read the full report here (in French). via RTBF reporter Karim Fadoul |
Updated | Updated |
at 7.40pm GMT | at 7.40pm GMT |
6.50pm GMT | 6.50pm GMT |
18:50 | 18:50 |
European monuments are being lit up in solidarity with the victims of Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels. | European monuments are being lit up in solidarity with the victims of Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels. |
In Paris: | In Paris: |
In Berlin: | In Berlin: |
In Lyon: | In Lyon: |
Makeshift memorials have also popped up in Brussels, in tribute to the victims: | Makeshift memorials have also popped up in Brussels, in tribute to the victims: |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.11pm GMT | at 8.11pm GMT |
6.39pm GMT | 6.39pm GMT |
18:39 | 18:39 |
Sam Levin | Sam Levin |
The governor of Utah, Gary Herbert, has confirmed that three Utahns serving as missionaries for the Mormon church were injured in the attacks at the Brussels airport: | The governor of Utah, Gary Herbert, has confirmed that three Utahns serving as missionaries for the Mormon church were injured in the attacks at the Brussels airport: |
“It is not uncommon for innocent victims to be targeted in these terrorist attacks, but seldom do we see people of faith who have forsaken everything – family, friends, school and careers – in order to share a message of hope and love with the world also fall victim,” Herbert said in a statement on Tuesday. | “It is not uncommon for innocent victims to be targeted in these terrorist attacks, but seldom do we see people of faith who have forsaken everything – family, friends, school and careers – in order to share a message of hope and love with the world also fall victim,” Herbert said in a statement on Tuesday. |
The Utahns injured are 66-year-old Richard Norby, 20-year-old Joseph Empey and 19-year-old Mason Wells, according to the Associated Press. | The Utahns injured are 66-year-old Richard Norby, 20-year-old Joseph Empey and 19-year-old Mason Wells, according to the Associated Press. |
“To the Norby, Empey and Wells family, please know that the state of Utah is united in prayer at this time for the health and well being of your missionaries. As Utahns, we stand together with our fellow Americans and those around the world in our resolve to put an end to these acts of terror,” Herbert said.The attacks came just before the Tuesday GOP caucus in Utah where immigration has become a particularly hot-button issue. Many Republican Mormon voters, even those with very conservative views on immigration and counter-terrorism efforts, oppose Donald Trump in part due to his outlandish proposals like banning all Muslims. | “To the Norby, Empey and Wells family, please know that the state of Utah is united in prayer at this time for the health and well being of your missionaries. As Utahns, we stand together with our fellow Americans and those around the world in our resolve to put an end to these acts of terror,” Herbert said.The attacks came just before the Tuesday GOP caucus in Utah where immigration has become a particularly hot-button issue. Many Republican Mormon voters, even those with very conservative views on immigration and counter-terrorism efforts, oppose Donald Trump in part due to his outlandish proposals like banning all Muslims. |
This content is cross-posted with our US politics live blog. | This content is cross-posted with our US politics live blog. |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.10pm GMT | at 8.10pm GMT |
6.28pm GMT | 6.28pm GMT |
18:28 | 18:28 |
Prosecutor's office: 'Islamic State flag and explosive device found in Schaarbeek raid' | Prosecutor's office: 'Islamic State flag and explosive device found in Schaarbeek raid' |
Jennifer Rankin | Jennifer Rankin |
The Belgian prosecutor’s office has confirmed that raids were conducted in Schaarbeek, a northern suburb of Brussels, writes the Guardian’s Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin: | The Belgian prosecutor’s office has confirmed that raids were conducted in Schaarbeek, a northern suburb of Brussels, writes the Guardian’s Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin: |
“The searches ... have led to the discovery of an explosive device containing nails, among other things. The investigators have also discovered chemical products and an Islamic State flag.” | “The searches ... have led to the discovery of an explosive device containing nails, among other things. The investigators have also discovered chemical products and an Islamic State flag.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 6.46pm GMT | at 6.46pm GMT |
6.14pm GMT | 6.14pm GMT |
18:14 | 18:14 |
Police have re-established a security cordon at Zaventem airport after discovering a suspicious package, Flemish broadcaster VTM is reporting. | Police have re-established a security cordon at Zaventem airport after discovering a suspicious package, Flemish broadcaster VTM is reporting. |
The cordon had been reduced earlier this afternoon after police completed their initial security sweep of the airport, but the discovery of this package will send the process back to square one, the station is reporting. | The cordon had been reduced earlier this afternoon after police completed their initial security sweep of the airport, but the discovery of this package will send the process back to square one, the station is reporting. |
Updated | Updated |
at 6.16pm GMT | at 6.16pm GMT |
6.10pm GMT | 6.10pm GMT |
18:10 | 18:10 |
King Philippe: 'Belgium is in deep mourning' | King Philippe: 'Belgium is in deep mourning' |
King Philippe of Belgium has just addressed the nation, in a brief statement: | King Philippe of Belgium has just addressed the nation, in a brief statement: |
He said Belgium was now in deep mourning, and said 22 March will never be the same again. | He said Belgium was now in deep mourning, and said 22 March will never be the same again. |
We are faced with a threat, but we will continue to work together calmly, surely and with dignity. We must continue to trust ourselves. This is our strength.” | We are faced with a threat, but we will continue to work together calmly, surely and with dignity. We must continue to trust ourselves. This is our strength.” |
The King also expressed his support and thanks for the emergency services: “We are so grateful for all those who have helped.” | The King also expressed his support and thanks for the emergency services: “We are so grateful for all those who have helped.” |
Updated | Updated |
at 6.45pm GMT | at 6.45pm GMT |
5.50pm GMT | 5.50pm GMT |
17:50 | 17:50 |
Belgian prosecutor: 'Too early to make the link between Paris and today's attacks' | Belgian prosecutor: 'Too early to make the link between Paris and today's attacks' |
The Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw has also spoken at the press conference and has given details of the attack: | The Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw has also spoken at the press conference and has given details of the attack: |
Updated | Updated |
at 6.43pm GMT | at 6.43pm GMT |
5.44pm GMT | 5.44pm GMT |
17:44 | 17:44 |
Belgian PM Charles Michel: 'We are determined to defend our freedom' | Belgian PM Charles Michel: 'We are determined to defend our freedom' |
Charles Michel is speaking at a press conference in Brussels, in both French and Flemish: | Charles Michel is speaking at a press conference in Brussels, in both French and Flemish: |
Updated | Updated |
at 8.03pm GMT | at 8.03pm GMT |