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Britons advised not to travel to Brussels after attacks Britons advised not to travel to Brussels after attacks
(about 1 hour later)
British people are advised not to travel to Brussels following terror attacks in the city, Downing Street said on Monday. British people are advised not to travel to Brussels following terror attacks in the city, Downing Street said on Tuesday.
The Foreign Office was updating its travel advice to warn against going to the Belgian capital, in line with Belgium’s own guidance.The Foreign Office was updating its travel advice to warn against going to the Belgian capital, in line with Belgium’s own guidance.
“The Belgian authorities are currently advising against travel to Brussels; you are advised to follow the instructions of the Belgian security authorities,” the Foreign Office said.“The Belgian authorities are currently advising against travel to Brussels; you are advised to follow the instructions of the Belgian security authorities,” the Foreign Office said.
The warning suggests the intelligence services and police are not convinced the security situation in Brussels is yet under control.The warning suggests the intelligence services and police are not convinced the security situation in Brussels is yet under control.
It is a particularly drastic step to warn against going to another EU country, which the Foreign Office did not happen even after the Paris terror attacks last year. It is a particularly drastic step to warn against going to another EU country, which the Foreign Office did not do even after the Paris terror attacks last year.
The update amends earlier guidance that warned British citizens in Brussels to remain alert and vigilant, to stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport.The update amends earlier guidance that warned British citizens in Brussels to remain alert and vigilant, to stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport.
Earlier, David Cameron said the government did not think it necessary to raise the terror threat level in the UK from severe, which means an attack is “highly likely”, to critical, which suggests an imminent threat. Earlier on Tuesday, David Cameron said the government did not think it necessary to raise the terror threat level in the UK from severe, which means an attack is “highly likely”, to critical, which suggests an imminent threat.
Belgium is currently at threat level four and all public transport in Brussels, including all metro stations, are closed. Belgium is currently at threat level four (out of five, with five being the most serious) and all public transport in Brussels, including all metro stations, are closed.
The announcement about the change in travel advice was made by Downing Street and the FCO website did not appear to have immediately changed by early evening. The announcement about the change in travel advice was made by Downing Street. The FCO website did not appear to have changed by early Tuesday evening.
No 10 also said Whitehall officials, police and intelligence agencies were meeting on Tuesday afternoon to discuss further their response to the attacks. No 10 also said Whitehall officials, police and intelligence agencies had met on Tuesday afternoon to discuss further their response to the attacks.
The prime minister’s official spokeswoman said Britain was also sending a team of specialist police officers to Brussels to assist with the investigation.The prime minister’s official spokeswoman said Britain was also sending a team of specialist police officers to Brussels to assist with the investigation.
“They will be gathering together as much material as possible that can help them with the investigation. It is working on the investigation, trying to work out what happened, who is responsible,” the spokeswoman said.“They will be gathering together as much material as possible that can help them with the investigation. It is working on the investigation, trying to work out what happened, who is responsible,” the spokeswoman said.
Anyone who does decide to take the risk of trying to travel to or from Belgium will face serious disruption to air and rail services.Anyone who does decide to take the risk of trying to travel to or from Belgium will face serious disruption to air and rail services.
The Belgian authorities are currently advising the public to remain where they are, and for travellers to follow the advice of local authorities and respect security controls.The Belgian authorities are currently advising the public to remain where they are, and for travellers to follow the advice of local authorities and respect security controls.
Brussels airport, the location of one explosion, remains closed. All flights on Tuesday were cancelled and passengers were asked to contact their airline for further instructions. The public have been asked to avoid the area surrounding the airport.Brussels airport, the location of one explosion, remains closed. All flights on Tuesday were cancelled and passengers were asked to contact their airline for further instructions. The public have been asked to avoid the area surrounding the airport.
In a statement, the airport also said that passengers holding a ticket for a Lufthansa Group flight (Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Germanwings) between Tuesday and 28 March, to, from or via Brussels could rebook or obtain a refund for their ticket for free. In a statement, the airport also said that passengers holding a ticket for a Lufthansa Group flight (Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Germanwings) between Tuesday and 28 March, to, from or via Brussels could rebook without additional cost or obtain a refund for their ticket.
Brussels South airport was open, but passengers were advised to arrive at the airport at least four hours before departure and check flight details with airlines. Brussels South airport was open, but passengers were advised to arrivethere at least four hours before departure and check flight details with airlines.