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Blasts leave ‘scores’ dead at Brussels airport and metro station Blasts leave ‘scores’ dead at Brussels airport and metro station
(35 minutes later)
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. BRUSSELS — Apparently coordinated terrorist explosions rocked Brussels’ airport and a metro station Tuesday, leaving at least 26 dead and raising fears that attackers carried out retaliatory strikes after the arrest of a key suspect in last year’s Paris massacres.
The full casualty count remained unclear hours after the attacks, but various Belgian reports and officials placed it at more than 15. The full casualty count remained unclear hours after the attacks, but various Belgian reports and officials said it reached at least 26.
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. “We are talking about scores of dead,” said Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel without giving clearer estimates after blast strong enough to bring down the roof panels at the airport departure hall and leave the metro platform shrouded in smoke and littered with debris.
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. 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. Belgian’s prosecutor’s office described at least one of the airport blasts as part of a suicide attack — the latest apparent terrorist bloodshed to hit Europe and another sign that militant networks remain able to strike despite widespread crackdowns and probes across the continent.
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. Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said the city had come under “terrorist attacks.”
Brussels’s public transportation agency said the subway blast alone left at least 15 dead and 55 injured “so far.”
The Belgian Health Ministry said that 11 people had been killed and 81 wounded in the attack at the airport, Belgium’s Le Soir newspaper reported.
“What we had feared has happened,” said the prime minister. “This is a black moment for our country.”
In a lockdown order, the Belgian capital was 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.
[Live blog on Brussels attacks]
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.
“Through the attacks in Brussels, all of Europe is hit,” French President François Hollande wrote on Twitter. On social media, an image soon appeared: A figure draped in the colors of the French flag embracing another tearful figure in the black-yellow-red of Belgium.
London and other cities, including New York, also put additional police on the streets.
And in Jordan, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, choked back tears at a news conference after learning of the Brussels attacks.
“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, sent passengers fleeing, and left pools of blood amid splintered signs and abandoned luggage.
The metro station was clogged with smoke as panicked people streamed onto the streets and rescue workers raced in the other direction into the mayhem.
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.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.
“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.
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.
Deane reported from London, and Murphy from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Moscow and Anthony Faiola in Berlin contributed to this report.Deane reported from London, and Murphy from Washington. Michael Birnbaum in Moscow and Anthony Faiola in Berlin contributed to this report.
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