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Two explosions detonated at Brussels airport Brussels on high alert after explosions at airport and metro station
(35 minutes later)
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. BRUSSELS — More than a dozen people were killed and many others injured after two explosions rocked Brussels’ Zaventem Airport Tuesday morning at about 8 a.m., causing heavy damage and panic, Belgian media reported.
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. 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.
Amateur video taken immediately after the airport attack showed streams of panicked passengers running out of the airport shortly after the explosions occurred. Belgian media reported that at least 13 people were killed in the explosions at the airport and the subway station. Those casualty figures could not immediately be confirmed.
Large clouds of smoke bellowed from the blown-out windows of a terminal building. At least one of the airport explosions 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. 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.
Belgian authorities raised the country’s terror threat level to maximum after the attacks at the airport and the metro. The airport was closed, as well as the major roadway leading to the airport. Flights were diverted to Liege airport, radio reports said.
Belgian authorities raised the country’s terror threat level to maximum after the attacks.
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.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.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.”“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.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.
Security concerns from the explosions immediately rippled across Europe. French President Francois Hollande convened a meeting of his top security advisers in Paris, just days after he joined in celebration with Belgian leaders about the capture of Abdeslam.
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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