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Brussels explosion: Suspected bomber 'shot dead' by police after blast at Central Station | Brussels explosion: Suspected bomber 'shot dead' by police after blast at Central Station |
(35 minutes later) | |
The man who reportedly tried to detonate explosives at a Brussels train station is dead, the federal prosecutor has said. | |
The unidentified man, reportedly carrying a suicide belt and a backpack full of explosives, detonated a small explosion inside Central Station but was shot by soldiers who were patrolling the area at the time. | |
Police then evacuated the station and nearby the Grand Place "in seconds" according to witnesses. | Police then evacuated the station and nearby the Grand Place "in seconds" according to witnesses. |
One eyewitness reported that the man had shouted "Allahu Akbar" and had seemed very agitated. | One eyewitness reported that the man had shouted "Allahu Akbar" and had seemed very agitated. |
Nicolas Van Herreweghen, who works for Belgium's national rail company, said the male suspect was yelling about jihadists before blowing up something on a baggage trolley. | Nicolas Van Herreweghen, who works for Belgium's national rail company, said the male suspect was yelling about jihadists before blowing up something on a baggage trolley. |
He said the man appeared to be 30 to 35 years of age. | He said the man appeared to be 30 to 35 years of age. |
The government agency which owns Belgium's railways was warned by a train driver who saw people running across the rail lines inside the station, spokesman Arnaud Reymann told broadcaster RTL. | The government agency which owns Belgium's railways was warned by a train driver who saw people running across the rail lines inside the station, spokesman Arnaud Reymann told broadcaster RTL. |
Rail company spokeswoman Elisa Roux said Tuesday evening that trains were diverted from the station and buses sent out to take passengers to the area. | Rail company spokeswoman Elisa Roux said Tuesday evening that trains were diverted from the station and buses sent out to take passengers to the area. |
Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said they were treating the incident as a "terror attack". | Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt said they were treating the incident as a "terror attack". |
Belgium has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people on the Brussels subway and at an airport in March 2016. | |
There have been incidents involving extremists in Paris and London in recent days, including the attack by a van driver who tried to run down Muslim worshippers outside a mosque in Finsbury Park. | |
Additional reporting by AP |