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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/01/brussels-attacks-police-strike-delays-reopening-zaventem-airport
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| Brussels attacks: police strike delays reopening of Zaventem airport | Brussels attacks: police strike delays reopening of Zaventem airport |
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| A strike by police officers has delayed plans to partially reopen Brussels airport to passenger flights, 10 days after bomb attacks in the Belgian capital killed 35 people. | A strike by police officers has delayed plans to partially reopen Brussels airport to passenger flights, 10 days after bomb attacks in the Belgian capital killed 35 people. |
| It had been expected that some operations at the Zaventem hub would resume on Friday evening after plans to do so were approved by the fire services and civilian aviation authorities. | |
| Related: 'Everything is destroyed': witnesses at Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro on the bombings | Related: 'Everything is destroyed': witnesses at Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro on the bombings |
| But airport police officers have withdrawn their cooperation, citing widespread security shortcomings, “questionable” left-luggage procedures and the alleged employment of minority ethnic workers with criminal records. | But airport police officers have withdrawn their cooperation, citing widespread security shortcomings, “questionable” left-luggage procedures and the alleged employment of minority ethnic workers with criminal records. |
| A statement by the officers’ SLFP union on Wednesday warned that if the issues as they saw them were not addressed, “we are going to put on the brakes”. | A statement by the officers’ SLFP union on Wednesday warned that if the issues as they saw them were not addressed, “we are going to put on the brakes”. |
| Talks to resolve the dispute reportedly snagged on a police demand for security checks on everyone entering the main airport building, which the authorities fear could create crowded bottlenecks at entrances. | Talks to resolve the dispute reportedly snagged on a police demand for security checks on everyone entering the main airport building, which the authorities fear could create crowded bottlenecks at entrances. |
| The deputy Belgian prime minister, Kris Peeters, said the demand was “perfectly possible, but legally it would not be wise”. | |
| Belgium’s National Security Council met on Friday afternoon, but it is unclear when the airport will now reopen. | Belgium’s National Security Council met on Friday afternoon, but it is unclear when the airport will now reopen. |
| Large areas of Zaventem were badly damaged in the attack on 22 March. The arrivals terminal and baggage reclaim area were only lightly damaged, however, and have been restored for full use, according to the authorities. | Large areas of Zaventem were badly damaged in the attack on 22 March. The arrivals terminal and baggage reclaim area were only lightly damaged, however, and have been restored for full use, according to the authorities. |
| A full reopening of the airport is not expected for many months. “We must find a balance between economic needs and security needs,” said Belgium’s defence minister, Steven Vandeput. | A full reopening of the airport is not expected for many months. “We must find a balance between economic needs and security needs,” said Belgium’s defence minister, Steven Vandeput. |
| The airport authorities said operations at 20% of normal capacity were possible, allowing 800 passengers an hour to depart. But feelings are running high among staff after the suicide bomb attack last week, which killed at least 17 people around check-in desks. | |
| The head of the SLFP union, Vincent Gilles, reportedly claimed his officers had seen some airport baggage handlers applauding the attacks on Zaventem. | The head of the SLFP union, Vincent Gilles, reportedly claimed his officers had seen some airport baggage handlers applauding the attacks on Zaventem. |
| A separate statement by three unions representing airport staff accused authorities of having “failed in their duty to provide a safe workplace for employees”, Le Soir newspaper reported. | |
| Also on Friday, a court in southern Italy granted a request to extradite an Algerian man wanted by Belgian authorities for alleged involvement in a network that provided false IDs to suspects in the Paris and Brussels attacks. | |
| Djamal Eddine Ouali, who authorities have said arrived in Italy in December, was arrested on a Belgian warrant on Saturday near the southern port city of Salerno. His lawyer said he would appeal against the ruling. |