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Two explosions detonated at Brussels airport Blasts leave ‘scores’ dead at Brussels airport and metro station
(35 minutes later)
BRUSSELS — More than a dozen people were killed and many others injured after apparently coordinated explosions rocked Brussels’ airport and a metro station Tuesday, raising fears that attackers carried out retaliatory strikes after the arrest of a key suspect in last year’s Paris massacres. BRUSSELS — Apparently coordinated explosions rocked Brussels’ airport and a metro station, leaving “scores” dead and raising fears that attackers carried out retaliatory strikes after the arrest of a key suspect in last year’s Paris massacres.
Belgian’s prosecutor’s office described the airport blasts as part of a suicide attack — the latest apparent terrorist bloodshed to hit Europe and another sign that militant network remain about to strike despite widespread crackdowns and probes across the continent. The full casualty count remained unclear hours after the attacks, but various Belgian reports and officials placed it at more than 15.
Belgian’s prosecutor’s office described the airport blasts as part of a suicide attack — the latest apparent terrorist bloodshed to hit Europe and another sign that militant network remain able to strike despite widespread crackdowns and probes across the continent.
Belgian broadcaster RTBF, citing Brussels’s public transportation agency, said the subway blast alone left at least 15 dead and 55 injured.
“We are talking about scores of dead,” said Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel without giving clearer estimates.
“What we had feared has happened,” he said. “This is a black moment for our country.”
[Scenes from the airport carnage][Scenes from the airport carnage]
In a lockdown order, the Belgian capital was out put on maximum terror alert and all of public transport throughout the city shut down. In a lockdown order, the Belgian capital was out put on maximum terror alert and all of public transport throughout the city shut down. The fallout immediately spread beyond Belgium’s borders, displaying the increased worries and security cooperation since last November’s Paris attacks that killed 130 people.
In France, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said an additional 1,600 people were deployed and security was boosted at border posts and major transport hubs. London also put additional police on the streets.
“We are experiencing the darkest day in the history of our country since the Second World War,” said Bart de Wever, the mayor of Antwerp and the leader of Belgium’s largest political party, the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang, the VTM broadcaster reported.“We are experiencing the darkest day in the history of our country since the Second World War,” said Bart de Wever, the mayor of Antwerp and the leader of Belgium’s largest political party, the Flemish nationalist Vlaams Belang, the VTM broadcaster reported.
At the Zaventem Airport, the blasts collapsed ceilings in the departure hall and left pools of blood amid splintered signs and abandoned luggage.At the Zaventem Airport, the blasts collapsed ceilings in the departure hall and left pools of blood amid splintered signs and abandoned luggage.
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, but some media reports placed the tally higher — suggesting the full count was still unclear hours after the 8 a.m. bloodshed. The casualty figures could not be immediately confirmed, but some media reports placed the tally higher — suggesting the full count was still unclear hours after the 8 a.m. bloodshed.
[Belgium: Paris terror suspect was planning new attacks][Belgium: Paris terror suspect was planning new attacks]
At least one of the airport explosions took place in the departure hall near the American Airlines check-in counter.At least one of the airport explosions took place in the departure hall near the American Airlines check-in counter.
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.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.
The airport was closed, as well as the major roadway leading to the airport. Flights were diverted to Liege airport, radio reports said.The airport was closed, as well as the major roadway leading to the airport. Flights were diverted to Liege airport, radio reports said.
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.
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.
[Gallery: The hunt for the Paris attack fugitive][Gallery: The hunt for the Paris attack fugitive]
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. Deane reported from London, and Murphy from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Moscow and Anthony Faiola in Berlin contributed to this report.
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 in Anthony Faiola in Berlin and Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report.
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