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| Brussels attacks: city mourns as manhunt continues – live | Brussels attacks: city mourns as manhunt continues – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.04pm GMT | |
| 22:04 | |
| Summary: what we know so far | |
| Claire Phipps | |
| 10.01pm GMT | |
| 22:01 | |
| Muslim leaders in Belgium unilaterally condemned the attacks in Brussels on Tuesday. | |
| In a statement, the League of Imams in Belgium (La Ligue des Imams de Belgique), that it condemned “firmly the criminal and unspeakable acts” committed today, “which took the lives of tens of our citizens and injured countless others.” | |
| The League added that it wanted to express “its entire solidarity and sincere condolences to the families of those struck by tragedy today” ... The League also said that, facing tragedy, the league called on “the solidarity of all the citizens of the country, of all confessions to overcome this and not to fall prey to “traps laid by those who wish to push us to the limits of tolerance and communal living.” | |
| More on the statement here (in French). | |
| 9.45pm GMT | |
| 21:45 | |
| Stib, Brussels’ mass transport operator, has updated residents on the state of transport in the city tomorrow (Wednesday): | |
| Metro line 2 operational again, but only stops at Simonis, Rogier, Madou, Trône, Louise, Midi, Delacroix & Beekkant. #stib #Brussels | |
| Our network tomorrow 23/3: we’re preparing a network with extra security. More info as from 6am #stib #brusselsattack @CrisiscenterBE | |
| Meanwhile, the Brussels Airport has tweeted that the airport will remain closed tomorrow, with passengers told to contact their airline for further instructions. No cargo flights are being allowed entry to the airport either, “only empty flights from international carriers are admitted. The brucargo zone landside is accessible.” | |
| 9.28pm GMT | 9.28pm GMT |
| 21:28 | 21:28 |
| German police said on Tuesday night that they had arrested three people in a car with a Belgian licence plate near the border with Austria and had launched an investigation into whether they had planned to carry out an attack, according to Reuters. | German police said on Tuesday night that they had arrested three people in a car with a Belgian licence plate near the border with Austria and had launched an investigation into whether they had planned to carry out an attack, according to Reuters. |
| The three suspects from Kosovo were arrested before the attacks that killed at least 30 people at a metro station and the international airport in Brussels, the spokesman said. Police made the arrests on a motorway in the southern state of Bavaria after receiving an intelligence tip-off. | The three suspects from Kosovo were arrested before the attacks that killed at least 30 people at a metro station and the international airport in Brussels, the spokesman said. Police made the arrests on a motorway in the southern state of Bavaria after receiving an intelligence tip-off. |
| “Investigations have been launched into the suspected planning of a serious criminal act against the state because there was notification of that,” the spokesman said. He said there was no indication so far that the three suspects had any links to the attacks in the Belgian capital, adding that this could not be ruled out. | “Investigations have been launched into the suspected planning of a serious criminal act against the state because there was notification of that,” the spokesman said. He said there was no indication so far that the three suspects had any links to the attacks in the Belgian capital, adding that this could not be ruled out. |
| Germany stepped up security measures at airports, train stations and the borders with Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg after the explosions in Brussels. | Germany stepped up security measures at airports, train stations and the borders with Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg after the explosions in Brussels. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.35pm GMT | |
| 9.03pm GMT | 9.03pm GMT |
| 21:03 | 21:03 |
| During the nighttime you can contact us via +3278151771. Tomorrow morning at 8 AM we will be back on social media. #Brussels | During the nighttime you can contact us via +3278151771. Tomorrow morning at 8 AM we will be back on social media. #Brussels |
| 8.51pm GMT | 8.51pm GMT |
| 20:51 | 20:51 |
| More details have emerged about the Americans hurt in the bomb blasts that killed 31 and wounded more than 200 people today. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. | 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: | More here: |
| Related: US airports to see increased security after Brussels attacks, officials say | Related: US airports to see increased security after Brussels attacks, officials say |
| 8.43pm GMT | 8.43pm GMT |
| 20:43 | 20:43 |
| Paul Nolan | Paul Nolan |
| For the aftermath of a terrorist atrocity, there was a surprising amount of laughter at the Zaventem crisis centre, writes 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 8.32pm GMT |
| 20:32 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Updated |
| at 8.35pm GMT | 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. |