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| Brussels attacks: Airport 'ready to partially reopen' | Brussels attacks: Airport 'ready to partially reopen' |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| The Brussels airport hit by deadly bomb attacks says it is ready to partially reopen but flights will not restart until Friday evening at the earliest. | The Brussels airport hit by deadly bomb attacks says it is ready to partially reopen but flights will not restart until Friday evening at the earliest. |
| Zaventem airport has been closed since 22 March when two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the departure hall. | Zaventem airport has been closed since 22 March when two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the departure hall. |
| In a statement, the airport's operators said the departures area would only be operating at 20% of normal capacity. | In a statement, the airport's operators said the departures area would only be operating at 20% of normal capacity. |
| The attacks on the airport and another suicide bomb on the Brussels Metro killed 32 people and injured hundreds. | The attacks on the airport and another suicide bomb on the Brussels Metro killed 32 people and injured hundreds. |
| So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the bombings. | So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the bombings. |
| Thursday's announcement follows days of tests for a temporary check-in system at Zaventem. | Thursday's announcement follows days of tests for a temporary check-in system at Zaventem. |
| "Brussels Airport Company has received the go-ahead from the fire services and the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority for a partial restart of passenger flights at the airport," the airport's statement said. | "Brussels Airport Company has received the go-ahead from the fire services and the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority for a partial restart of passenger flights at the airport," the airport's statement said. |
| "The airport is thus technically ready for a restart of passenger flights in the temporary infrastructure foreseen for check-in. | "The airport is thus technically ready for a restart of passenger flights in the temporary infrastructure foreseen for check-in. |
| "However, the authorities have yet to take a formal decision on the restart date. Until Friday evening no passenger flights will take place at Brussels Airport." | "However, the authorities have yet to take a formal decision on the restart date. Until Friday evening no passenger flights will take place at Brussels Airport." |
| It said the temporary system could receive 800 departing passengers per hour, far fewer than normal. | It said the temporary system could receive 800 departing passengers per hour, far fewer than normal. |
| However, the baggage reclaim and arrivals area was only slightly damaged and has since been made ready for use, it added. | However, the baggage reclaim and arrivals area was only slightly damaged and has since been made ready for use, it added. |
| "The final step for the restart is the formal political approval. In the meantime, it has been decided that there will be no passenger flights until Friday evening." | "The final step for the restart is the formal political approval. In the meantime, it has been decided that there will be no passenger flights until Friday evening." |
| Chief executive Arnaud Feist said earlier this week that the airport would take months to reopen fully. | Chief executive Arnaud Feist said earlier this week that the airport would take months to reopen fully. |
| Meanwhile, Brussels airport police have said they criticised security well ahead of the attacks. | Meanwhile, Brussels airport police have said they criticised security well ahead of the attacks. |
| In an open letter to authorities published by Belgian broadcaster VRT (in Dutch), police said they had sent "strong daily signals regarding the overall security at the airport". | |
| They complained "there had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex right up to the centralised body searches" area. | They complained "there had not been any security control of passengers or luggage from the airport complex right up to the centralised body searches" area. |
| They also alleged that too many airport employees had criminal backgrounds. | They also alleged that too many airport employees had criminal backgrounds. |
| Police are still searching for the third man who took part in the airport attacks. The man, pictured on CCTV wearing a hat, was said to have fled the scene without detonating his explosive device. | Police are still searching for the third man who took part in the airport attacks. The man, pictured on CCTV wearing a hat, was said to have fled the scene without detonating his explosive device. |
| The two airport bombers who died have been named as Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. | The two airport bombers who died have been named as Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui. |
| Bakraoui's brother, Khalid el-Bakraoui, blew himself up at Maelbeek metro station. | Bakraoui's brother, Khalid el-Bakraoui, blew himself up at Maelbeek metro station. |
| Police later found a computer in which Ibrahim el-Bakraoui left a final message. | Police later found a computer in which Ibrahim el-Bakraoui left a final message. |
| The BBC has learned that the same computer contained plans and photos of Prime Minister Charles Michel's office and home. | The BBC has learned that the same computer contained plans and photos of Prime Minister Charles Michel's office and home. |