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Brussels airport shut down after multiple explosions Two explosions detonated at Brussels airport
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — Two explosions rocked Brussels’ Zaventem Airport Tuesday morning at about 8 a.m., causing heavy damage, possible casualties and closing the airport. BRUSSELS — At least one person died and several were injured after two explosions rocked Brussels’ Zaventem Airport Tuesday morning at about 8 a.m., causing heavy damage and panic. A third explosion ripped through a Brussels metro station shortly afterwards, prompting authorities to put Belgium on maximum terror alert and shut down all of public transport throughout the capital.
The Belgian news agency reported that one person died and several were injured in the explosions, at least one of which took place in the departure hall near the American Airlines check-in counter. The Belgian news agency reported that one person died and several were injured in the two airport explosions, at least one of which took place in the departure hall near the American Airlines check-in counter.
The airport was closed, as well as the major roadway leading to the airport, the BBC reported. Flights were diverted to Liege airport, radio reports said.
Belgian authorities raised the city’s terror threat level to maximum after the explosions.
Another explosion took place in the Brussels metro Thursday morning following the airport attack, the BBC reported, citing a Belgian broadcaster.
Amateur video taken immediately after the airport attack showed streams of panicked passengers running out of the airport shortly after the explosions occurred.Amateur video taken immediately after the airport attack showed streams of panicked passengers running out of the airport shortly after the explosions occurred.
Large clouds of smoke bellowed from the blown-out windows of a terminal building.Large clouds of smoke bellowed from the blown-out windows of a terminal building.
The airport was closed, as well as the major roadway leading to the airport, the BBC reported. Flights were diverted to Liege airport, radio reports said.
Belgian authorities raised the country’s terror threat level to maximum after the attacks at the airport and the metro.
About 75 minutes after the explosion at the airport, another explosion ripped through the Maelbeek metro station, Belgian media reported. That station, near the heart of the European Union, serves a busy stretch of E.U. office buildings, embassies and international organizations. The explosion happened toward the end of the morning rush hour, when many subway trains are still packed with commuters.
The entire Brussels metro system was then closed.
“We are following the situation minute by minute,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel wrote on Twitter, shortly before the reports of the additional explosion in the metro. “The absolute priority goes to the victims and to people present at the airport.”
The Belgian government said it was treating the airport explosions as a possible attack. The “possibility of an attack is being investigated,” the Belgian government said in a statement. The statement said the nation’s top security officials planned to meet later Tuesday.
Damage to the airport has been extensive, news reports said. Eyewitnesses reported a massive amount of broken glass in the departure hall.Damage to the airport has been extensive, news reports said. Eyewitnesses reported a massive amount of broken glass in the departure hall.
Brussels airport tweeted news of the explosions, beseeching people to stay away.Brussels airport tweeted news of the explosions, beseeching people to stay away.
One person, who was in a taxi pulling up to the departures terminal, said she felt and heard two explosions in short succession, “one further away, one closer.”One person, who was in a taxi pulling up to the departures terminal, said she felt and heard two explosions in short succession, “one further away, one closer.”
“We saw a few people injured, we saw the glass front of the building had exploded, glass flying around,” said Daniela Schwarzer, the head of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, who was leaving Brussels after a weekend conference there.“We saw a few people injured, we saw the glass front of the building had exploded, glass flying around,” said Daniela Schwarzer, the head of the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, who was leaving Brussels after a weekend conference there.
The bombing comes just four days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the last known participant in the November attacks on Paris. Abdeslam, 26, was arrested in Brussels’ Molenbeek neighborhood.The bombing comes just four days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the last known participant in the November attacks on Paris. Abdeslam, 26, was arrested in Brussels’ Molenbeek neighborhood.
Deane reported from London. Michael Birnbaum contributed from Moscow. Anthony Faiola contributed from Berlin.Deane reported from London. Michael Birnbaum contributed from Moscow. Anthony Faiola contributed from Berlin.
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