This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/mar/22/brussels-airport-explosions-live-updates
The article has changed 39 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
Next version
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Brussels explosions: multiple casualties after airport and metro attacks – live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
11.35am GMT | |
11:35 | |
Flags at the European Commission have been lowered. | |
Flags have been lowered at Commission HQ #brussels pic.twitter.com/9NPb3Go0Fi | |
A spokesman for the commission said Europe was united against terrorism. | |
"We stand together, united against terror and in full solidarity with the people of #Brussels" @MargSchinas https://t.co/G541QOrI1W | |
11.32am GMT | |
11:32 | |
French president François Hollande said the whole of Europe has been hit by today’s attack. | |
J’exprime mon entière solidarité avec le peuple belge. À travers les attentats de Bruxelles, c’est toute l’Europe qui est frappée. | |
There has been widespread international condemnation. | |
Vladimir Putin has expressed his condolences on the civilian deaths in a series of explosions in Brussels | |
Pres.@AshrafGhani strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in #Brussels. Our thoughts are w/ victims' families, people & Kingdom of #Belgium. | |
News from Brussels is disturbing. The attacks are condemnable. Condolences to families of the deceased. May those injured recover quickly. | |
BXL attacked by terrorists. I feel sorrow and anger. Let's hunt them down and stay united in our fight for european values. #brusselsattack | |
11.27am GMT | |
11:27 | |
Belgian TV station Ring TV has posted an appeal to people living near Zaventem airport to bring blankets, water, food and essential medical supplies to the local gym being used as a makeshift shelter, writes Oliver Milne. | |
Updated | |
at 11.39am GMT | |
11.25am GMT | |
11:25 | |
Guardian columnist Simon Jenkins calls for “patience and restraint” in response to the attacks. | |
He writes: | |
The blanket media coverage assured for any act of violence is reckless. The media must “report”, but it need not go berserk in revelling in the violence caused, as it manifestly has done to Islamic State brutality. More serious, the intention of the terrorist is clearly to shut down western society, to show liberal democracy to be a sham and to invoke the persecution of Muslims. Yet that is the invariable response of the security industry to these incidents. Convinced of its potency, it dare not admit there are some things against which it cannot protect us. So when incidents occur it jerks the knee and demands ever more money and ever more power. It must not be given them. | |
Related: Our response to the Brussels bombings requires patience and restraint | Simon Jenkins | |
Updated | |
at 11.37am GMT | |
11.19am GMT | |
11:19 | |
The Eiffel Tower is to be lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag as a mark of solidarity, writes Oliver Milne. | |
Anne Hidalgo, mayor of Paris, tweeted: “In solidarity with the people of Brussels, tonight Paris will light the Eiffel Tower in the colours of the Belgian flag.” | |
En solidarité avec les Bruxellois, #Paris illuminera ce soir @LaTourEiffel aux couleurs du drapeau belge. #NousSommesUnis | |
Updated | |
at 11.25am GMT | |
11.15am GMT | |
11:15 | |
Rachel Obordo | |
Sarah, who is locked down in one of the EU institution buildings on Rue Belliard, less than 500m from Maelbeek station, contacted us via WhatsApp. | |
She told us that a controlled explosion took place on Rue de la Loi very close to Maelbeek station. | |
The following video was taken 15 minutes after the initial explosion this morning at Maelbeek station. | |
This is the scene on Rue Belliard, near Maelbeek station, 15 minutes after reports of the explosion at the stationhttps://t.co/tDx51kvGn6 | |
If you’re in Brussels you can share your eyewitness accounts, photos and videos or news tips direct with our journalists by clicking on the blue button in the live blog. | |
You can also email, text, tweet, fill in our form or contact us on WhatsApp on +447867825056. | |
Please think about your security first when recording and sharing your content. | |
Updated | |
at 11.24am GMT | |
11.08am GMT | |
11:08 | |
Police patrols at Manchester airport have been stepped up as a precaution. In a statement Manchester’s assistant chief constable John O’Hare said: | |
“There is no specific threat in Greater Manchester following the events this morning but we remain at a threat level of severe. | |
“We are working closely with Manchester airport to ensure that the appropriate response is in place and we have increased our patrols to support this. | |
“We will continue to review the situation and maintain our increased patrols in crowded areas, iconic locations and transport hubs. | |
“The events today in Brussels reinforce the need for us all to remain vigilant and report any concerns whilst continuing with normal daily life.” | |
Updated | |
at 11.11am GMT | |
11.06am GMT | |
11:06 | |
The Belgian prime minister, Charles Michael, has condemned the attacks as “blind, violent and cowardly”. | |
He added: “We must face this challenge in solidarity, united, together.” | |
Updated | |
at 11.10am GMT | |
10.59am GMT | 10.59am GMT |
10:59 | 10:59 |
The federal prosecutor, Fredere Van Leeuw, confirmed that the attack at Zaventem airport was carried out by a suicide bomber but gave no details about the second blast, writes Oliver Milne. | The federal prosecutor, Fredere Van Leeuw, confirmed that the attack at Zaventem airport was carried out by a suicide bomber but gave no details about the second blast, writes Oliver Milne. |
“It is too early to discuss any more details about the attackers,” Van Leeuw told journalists at the press conference. | “It is too early to discuss any more details about the attackers,” Van Leeuw told journalists at the press conference. |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.00am GMT | at 11.00am GMT |
10.56am GMT | 10.56am GMT |
10:56 | 10:56 |
15 killed in metro blast | 15 killed in metro blast |
The metro operator STIB-MIVB has confirmed that 15 people were killed in the Maelbeek metro station blast. | |
#Alerte La Stib confirme 15 morts et 10 blessés graves lors de l'attaque dans le métro https://t.co/Q6YSUN8EIv pic.twitter.com/8bVAAs827S | #Alerte La Stib confirme 15 morts et 10 blessés graves lors de l'attaque dans le métro https://t.co/Q6YSUN8EIv pic.twitter.com/8bVAAs827S |
Updated | |
at 11.16am GMT | |
10.52am GMT | 10.52am GMT |
10:52 | 10:52 |
Here’s video of passengers walking through a smoke-filled underground tunnel following an explosion at Maelbeek metro. At street level smoke can be seen rising from the underground. | Here’s video of passengers walking through a smoke-filled underground tunnel following an explosion at Maelbeek metro. At street level smoke can be seen rising from the underground. |
Updated | |
at 11.21am GMT | |
10.50am GMT | 10.50am GMT |
10:50 | 10:50 |
Belgian PM: 'What we feared, has happened' | Belgian PM: 'What we feared, has happened' |
Belgium’s prime minister, Charles Michel, says terrorists have committed murder at the airport and the metro station. | Belgium’s prime minister, Charles Michel, says terrorists have committed murder at the airport and the metro station. |
“What we feared, has happened,” he said in a televised press conference. | “What we feared, has happened,” he said in a televised press conference. |
He said it was too early to confirm casualty figures but said that there were “many dead, many injured”. | He said it was too early to confirm casualty figures but said that there were “many dead, many injured”. |
Michel confirmed that the attack at the airport was carried by a suicide bomber. | Michel confirmed that the attack at the airport was carried by a suicide bomber. |
He also called for “calm and solidarity” after what he described as a “tragic moment”. | He also called for “calm and solidarity” after what he described as a “tragic moment”. |
#Flash Double attentat à #Bruxelles: Charles Michel appelle au calme https://t.co/Q6YSUN8EIv pic.twitter.com/nag2stviuQ | #Flash Double attentat à #Bruxelles: Charles Michel appelle au calme https://t.co/Q6YSUN8EIv pic.twitter.com/nag2stviuQ |
Updated | Updated |
at 10.55am GMT | at 10.55am GMT |
10.44am GMT | 10.44am GMT |
10:44 | 10:44 |
Small blasts, thought to be controlled explosions, have been heard close the Maelbeek metro. Local media said it appeared to be the work of the police bomb squad, Reuters reports. | Small blasts, thought to be controlled explosions, have been heard close the Maelbeek metro. Local media said it appeared to be the work of the police bomb squad, Reuters reports. |
UPDATE: Reports of an explosion heard in Rue de la Loi appear to be a controlled explosion of suspicious package. https://t.co/nmaKraEzaB | UPDATE: Reports of an explosion heard in Rue de la Loi appear to be a controlled explosion of suspicious package. https://t.co/nmaKraEzaB |