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First Brussels bombings victims named as stories of survival emerge First Brussels bombings victims named as stories of survival emerge
(2 days later)
The identities of those killed, injured, or missing in the attacks on Brussels have begun to emerge with relatives and governments revealing victims from across the globe.The identities of those killed, injured, or missing in the attacks on Brussels have begun to emerge with relatives and governments revealing victims from across the globe.
At least 31 people are known to have been killed, most at the Maelbeek Metro station, and 11 at the Zaventem airport. An estimated 230 were injured at both sites, including foreign nationals as well as Belgians.At least 31 people are known to have been killed, most at the Maelbeek Metro station, and 11 at the Zaventem airport. An estimated 230 were injured at both sites, including foreign nationals as well as Belgians.
Related: Brussels attacks: police raid homes in search for airport bomb suspect – live updates
Peruvian Adelma Tapia Ruiz, in her 30s, was the first publicly confirmed death from the attack. Ruiz, who lived in Brussels, was at the airport to see off relatives of her Belgian husband, Christopher Delcambe, who was reportedly injured.Peruvian Adelma Tapia Ruiz, in her 30s, was the first publicly confirmed death from the attack. Ruiz, who lived in Brussels, was at the airport to see off relatives of her Belgian husband, Christopher Delcambe, who was reportedly injured.
Ruiz’s brother, Fernando Tapia Coral, said in an interview that the couple’s twin four-year-old daughters went outside the gate area to play shortly before the explosion and Delcambe followed them. He was unable to find Ruiz after the blast.Ruiz’s brother, Fernando Tapia Coral, said in an interview that the couple’s twin four-year-old daughters went outside the gate area to play shortly before the explosion and Delcambe followed them. He was unable to find Ruiz after the blast.
Coral confirmed his sister’s death on Facebook, saying: “this tragedy today touched the doors of my family this morning in the Brussels airport, when my sister Adelma Tapia died in the terrorist attack and was not able to survive this jihadist attack that we’ll never understand.”Coral confirmed his sister’s death on Facebook, saying: “this tragedy today touched the doors of my family this morning in the Brussels airport, when my sister Adelma Tapia died in the terrorist attack and was not able to survive this jihadist attack that we’ll never understand.”
Among the hundreds injured in the attack are at least eight French citizens, including three seriously wounded, according to the country’s foreign ministry. A spokesman warned however that the situation was constantly evolving, and the number could change. On Wednesday, the Saint Louis University, in Brussels, said one of its students was a victim of the attacks.
Three Italians were also among the injured, although not seriously, according to the Italian embassy in Belgium. Two Britons, two Colombians and an Ecuadorian national also were among the wounded, their governments said. In a Facebook post, it said: “I am very sad to inform you of the death of Leopold Hecht.”
Fears are also being expressed for a British man who did not arrive at work in Brussels on Tuesday morning and who has not been in touch with his family since bombs ripped through the city’s airport and transport system. It described him as “one of the unfortunate victims of the barbarous acts perpetrated on Tuesday, March 22 at the Maelbeek metro station”, adding:
Relatives and friends of David Dixon, who went to Newcastle University and used to work at British Airways, believe he was on the Brussels metro around the time time it was attacked. “There are no words to describe our dismay at the news. All our thoughts are with his family and relatives.”
“My friend David Dixon was on the metro at the time of the blasts and is still missing - he hasn’t been able to contact his partner,” Rachel Stevenson wrote on Facebook. It said Hecht, 20, was a law student.
Friends and families have been appealing for help in tracing a number of missing people who have not made contact since the explosions.
Downing Street has said it is “concerned” about David Dixon, a British IT worker originally from Hartlepool, County Durham, who failed to turn up for work in Brussels following the attacks.
He has not answered his phone since. His partner Charlotte Sutcliffe has been driving from hospital to hospital in Brussels trying to find him.
Her sister Marie Sutcliffe told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Not everybody has been identified yet of the injured so it’s just waiting for that process to happen.
“It’s just waiting, which is heartbreaking and very worrying.”
Four other Britons were injured, three of whom are in hospital.
An Indian national, Raghavendra Ganeshan, who worked for a technology company in Brussels hasalso been missing since the attacks. His mother Annapoorni Ganeshan told the News Minute that said she spoke to him before he left for work on Tuesday and that he took the metro line that was hit to the office every day.
She said: “He told me that he was leaving to work. About an hour later I got a call from my other son, who lives in Germany, saying that there was a blast in Brussels. I checked the news. Initially I only saw it was in the airport. But later there were news flashes that there was a blast in the metro line- Merode to Park station. This is the metro my son uses to commute to [the] office every day.”
India’s minister of external affairs, Sushma Swaraj, confirmed authorities are looking for Ganeshan. She said that two other Indian nationals who were injured, The Jet Airways crew members injured, Nidhi Chaphekar and Amit Motwani, both crew members with Jet Airways, were recovering well.
US woman Carolyn Moore was at the airport about to return home after visiting her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Justin Shults, reported WKYT. Moore was knocked over by the blast but uninjured, her sister said. However she has not been able to reach Stephanie or Justin, who are reportedly not on the list of casualties.
Siblings from New York, Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski, are also believed to be missing. The pair had gone to the Brussel airport on Tuesday morning and spoken with a relative over the phone once they arrived.
The Netherlands says two of its citizens are missing and Sweden says four of its citizens are missing. Neither government has released names of the missing.
A number of appeals have also been put out on social media sites for people believed to be at the airport or on the metro at the time of the blasts.
Among the hundreds injured in the attack are at least 19 Portuguese citizens - there is a large expat community in Brussels - and eight French citizens, including three seriously wounded. A spokesman for the French foreign ministery warned however that the situation was constantly evolving, and the number could change.
Three Italians were also among the injured, although not seriously, according to the Italian embassy in Belgium. Two Colombians and an Ecuadorian national also were among the wounded, their governments said.
A Brazilian-Belgian man, Sebastian Bellin, suffered severe leg injuries while standing in line at a check-in counter.A Brazilian-Belgian man, Sebastian Bellin, suffered severe leg injuries while standing in line at a check-in counter.
Bellin, who played for Oakland University in Michigan, was hit by shrapnel in the leg and hip and left bleeding on the floor of the airport for an hour according to this father.Bellin, who played for Oakland University in Michigan, was hit by shrapnel in the leg and hip and left bleeding on the floor of the airport for an hour according to this father.
Jean Bellin told CNN: “My son is doing well considering. He went through his first operation today. Because he was left for about an hour on the floor in the airport in Brussels he lost a lot of blood. So they stabilised him and now he is going to go through another operation.Jean Bellin told CNN: “My son is doing well considering. He went through his first operation today. Because he was left for about an hour on the floor in the airport in Brussels he lost a lot of blood. So they stabilised him and now he is going to go through another operation.
“I spoke with him twice. He is obviously stunned. The first words out of his mouth were ‘You wouldn’t believe the carnage I saw around’.“I spoke with him twice. He is obviously stunned. The first words out of his mouth were ‘You wouldn’t believe the carnage I saw around’.
“He was very clear and articulate even though he was obviously in a lot of pain. The second time I spoke to him he was obviously sedated and feeling a lot more tired.“He was very clear and articulate even though he was obviously in a lot of pain. The second time I spoke to him he was obviously sedated and feeling a lot more tired.
“All I know is that force of the blast where he was was sufficient to throw him up 6ft up in to the air and he landed back and he got shrapnel in his left leg and his right hip.“All I know is that force of the blast where he was was sufficient to throw him up 6ft up in to the air and he landed back and he got shrapnel in his left leg and his right hip.
“Very quickly there were photos of him circulating in the Belgium press and, because we have a huge network of friends in Belgium, they reached out and sent a picture of him on the floor and asked - is that really Seb?“Very quickly there were photos of him circulating in the Belgium press and, because we have a huge network of friends in Belgium, they reached out and sent a picture of him on the floor and asked - is that really Seb?
“And that was 4 in the morning. California time. That is how we found out.”“And that was 4 in the morning. California time. That is how we found out.”
Married couple, Andre and Danielle Adam were in the airport departures lounge, according to their adult daughter Gigi Adam. Gigi initially said her parents were missing but has since posted on Facebook that Danielle has been found in a Flanders hospital, but she still has no word of her father Andre, after the attack.
The US state department said it was searching for a “fair number” of missing US citizens following the attack, and has not released any numbers. However a number of outlets have reported deaths and injuries based on information from families.
Four Morman missionaries were also injured. Three, Mason Wells, 19, Richard Norby, 66, and Joseph Empey, 20, from Utah were seriously injured, officials from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said.Four Morman missionaries were also injured. Three, Mason Wells, 19, Richard Norby, 66, and Joseph Empey, 20, from Utah were seriously injured, officials from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said.
The trio had been dropping off fellow missionary, Fanny Clain, at the airport, who also suffered minor injuries.The trio had been dropping off fellow missionary, Fanny Clain, at the airport, who also suffered minor injuries.
Wells had also been in Paris at the time of last year’s attacks, and was standing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when it was attacked, the NY Daily News reported. “It’s a blessing from God he’s alive,” his father Chad Wells told ABC. “I think the Boston experience helped him to stay calm.”Wells had also been in Paris at the time of last year’s attacks, and was standing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when it was attacked, the NY Daily News reported. “It’s a blessing from God he’s alive,” his father Chad Wells told ABC. “I think the Boston experience helped him to stay calm.”
An unnamed US Air Force pilot, his wife, and their four children, were also injured, it’s been confirmed. An unnamed US Air Force pilot, his wife, and their four children, were also injured, it’s been confirmed. Starbucks said one of its employees received minor injuries from the blast outside its store at the airport.
Social media is awash with concerned relatives and friends searching for loved ones who are still missing.
US woman Carolyn Moore was at the airport about the return home after visiting her daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Justin Shults, reports WKYT. Moore was knocked over by the blast but uninjured, her sister said. However she has not been able to reach Stephanie or Justin, who are reportedly not on the list of casualties.
Siblings from New York, Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski, are also believed to be missing. The pair had gone to the Brussel airport on Tuesday morning and spoken with a relative over the phone once they arrived, it was reported.