BRUSSELS is on lockdown after at least 34 people were killed and 198 injured
in ISIS terrorist blasts across the city this morning.
At least 20 were killed and 106 injured after a rush hour blast at a metro
station in Maalbeek close to EU buildings, the Mayor of Brussels said.
Firefighters have said 14 died and more than 92 were injured after two
Kalashnikov-wielding suicide bombers hit Brussels Zaventem airport just
after 8am this morning.
IF YOU HAVE BEEN CAUGHT UP IN THE BRUSSELS TERROR ATTACKS CONTACT THE
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At least one of the bombs at the Brussels airport containted nails, it has
been reported.
An unexploded suicide bomb belt was found at Brussels Airport, as Belgium’s
Foreign Minister, Didier Reynders, warned he “fears people are still at
large” in the wake of the horror attacks.
Downing Street confirmed one British national was injured in the Brussels
airport attack.
A Kalashinikov rifle was found next to the body of one attacker in the
departure hall at Zaventem airport.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the three blasts in a statement published on
IS-linked Amaq News Agency, according to Egyptian media.
Twenty-four people are thought to have suffered serious burns, while scores
more were injured, in the horrifying metro attack.
Eyewitnesses describe scores of “walking wounded” escaping the
rubble in the airport after the series of blasts.
Tihange nuclear power plant in the city was evacuated this afternoon as part
of the security clampdown.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said many of those killed were foreign
citizens.
He said: “We must face this challenge in solidarity, united, together.”
French President Francois Hollande spoke out in solidarity with Belgium,
saying: “We are at war.”
He said: “We have been subjected for the last few months in Europe to
acts of war.
“Through the attacks in Brussels, the whole of Europe has been hit.”
Hotel lobbies were turned into makeshift emergency rooms to help injured
victims of the Brussels attacks earlier today.
A photo posted on Twitter showed an injured man being treated by paramedics on
a stretcher inside a hotel’s reception area.
Samir Derrouich, who works at a restaurant in Brussels airport, said: “The
two explosions were almost simultaneous. They were both at check in desk.
One was close to the Starbucks. It was awful. There was just blood. It was
like the apocalypse.”
Alphonse Youla, 40, who works at the airport, said he heard a man shouting out
in Arabic before the first explosion. “Then the glass ceiling of the
airport collapsed.”
“I helped carry out five people dead, their legs mangled,” he said,
his hands covered in blood.
The France-Belgium border was closed following the wave of the horror terror
attacks this morning.
Belgium sent 225 extra troops to Brussels following the explosions at Maalbeek
metro station and Zaventem airport.
French Police also said they would deploy 1,600 additional police officers at
borders and on transport.
A photograph earlier showed two men being arrested at North Station in
Belgium, as authorities searched for the attackers throughout the city amid
high tensions.
German Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière explicitly stated that this is an
attack on all Europe, and on the continent’s “freedom of movement”.
He said: “It’s clear the fight against international terror will take a long
time.”
The blasts came just hours after a French source said police had discovered
the DNA of a newly identified Paris attacks suspect on explosives used in
last year’s massacre.
Belgian investigators named the suspected ISIS terrorist as Najim Laachraoui,
who was previously known by the false name of Soufiane Kayal.
Chillingly he was still on the run and believed to have been in Belgium ahead
of this morning’s attacks, although there is nothing yet linking him to the
blasts.
Traces of DNA from the 24-year-old were found on the explosives used in the
gun and suicide attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead last November.
Paris attacks fugitive Salah Abdeslam was caught in Brussels four days ago,
sparking fears a retribution attack could take place.
An expert from the Henry Jackson Society said: “While the perpetrators
have yet to be identified, it is probable that they are linked to Abdeslam
and/or Islamic State. One possibility is that this operation was brought
forward in anticipation that information divulged by Abdeslam – as suggested
by Belgian prosecutors – would lead to their arrests.”
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said: “We feared a terror attack
and it happened, we know there are many dead, many injured, many of them
foreign nationals.
“What we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks.”
Blasts came hours after a French source said police had discovered the DNA of
a newly identified Paris attacks suspect on explosives.
Labour’s Ricahard Howitt told The Sun how he passed through the Metro station
less than half an hour before the devastating blast.
He even stopped among the crowds of commuters in the area that is now carnage
to tell his kids by phone their daddy was okay.
The East of England MEP said: “I am shaken and I’m a pretty experienced
politician.
“I was in the underground station less than half an hour before the bomb
went off.
“I wanted to call home to speak to my kids in case they had heard about
the airport attack.
“I just rang them to say daddy’s okay.
“Then I got into Parliament, the meeting started, we had a minute’s
silence – we were determined to just go on.
“Then I got a message through that that very station where I had been
standing talking to my children had been bombed.
“The whole building is now on lock down – no one going in and no one
going out.
“The city too, there are no planes and no trains coming into Brussels and
they are putting more military on the streets.
“I’ve not heard directly that my colleagues are missing but we are all
extremely anxious and it was at rush hour, when we were all coming into
work.
“It was the time to have maximum impact on innocent victims and there has
been grievous loss of life.”
As they evacuated people from the airport, terror cops confiscated hand
luggage from holidaymakers and they checked for further explosives.
All travel including metro stations, Eurostar, rail stations and flights were
cancelled as the city went into total lockdown this morning.
Authorities warned people to stay away, stay indoors and away from crowded
areas amid the terror in Brussels.
Belgian MP Georges Dallemagne had just dropped his wife off at the airport
when she heard the ‘massive explosions’ and the roof caved in.
He said: “I dropped her off around 7.40am this morning, and she called me
to say that there were explosions around 7.58am.
“She ran away immediately, in a state of shock, towards the Sheraton
Hotel. Then she returned to pick up her baggage, realising that the danger
in this zone had passed.
“It was then that she saw broken windows, victims leaving the airport,
the elderly put on stretchers, and the emergency services arriving.
“She saw a part of the ceiling had collapsed. She said the two explosions
were around the departure hall.”
Earlier a bomb disposal unit was spotted racing towards the European Union
building in the heart of the city.
It later emerged they were carrying out a controlled explosion at another
metro station.
One of the explosions is thought to have centred around the American Airlines
desk in the departure lounge in Zaventem airport.
Another blast reportedly took place on the road leading up to departures.
Passengers were evacuated and photos showed smoke billowing from the building
after the terror attack this morning.
The European Commission locked down its staff after explosions at Brussels
airport and at one and possibly two metro stations close to the EU
institutions, the vice president in charge of personnel tweeted.
A spokesman for officials working in the European Parliament nearby said the
legislature was working normally.
David Cameron chaired a Cobra meeting on this events, where he condemned the “appalling”
terrorists who carried out the “savage” attacks.
He added Britain faces “a very real terror threat”, and announced
extra patrols at ports, airports, Tube stations and major railway stations.
The Prime Minister added: “I have just spoken to the Belgian PM and
offered our sympathies and condolences. We must stand with Belgium at this
very difficult time.”
The Foreign Office has warned Brits caught up in Brussels to stay away from
crowded areas.
Eye witnesses described how the airport was turned instantly into a “war
zone” as bombs ruptured water pipes washing pools of blood across the
debris-strewn concourse.
Zach Mouzoun, who arrived on a flight from Geneva about 10 minutes before the
first blast, told France’s BFM television that the second louder explosion
brought down ceilings and ruptured pipes, mixing water with blood from
victims.
“It was atrocious. The ceilings collapsed,” he said. “There was
blood everywhere, injured people, bags everywhere.”
“We were walking in the debris. It was a war scene.”
All metro stations were closed in the city following the attacks during this
morning’s rush hour.
Witnesses described “feeling the shockwaves” of the blasts as the explosions
ripped through the airport and said dismembered bodies and blood were strewn
across the floor.
Sky News Middle East correspondent Alex Rossi, who was waiting to board a
flight to Israel, said: “I could feel the buildings move.”
Meanwhile holidaymaker Pauline Deglume tweeted: “My sponsor who is located at
the airport told me that he sees everywhere dismembered bodies. The
emergency services can barely.”
“The roof is collapsed and there is blood all over. Everything is blown on
tens of meters,” she added.
She added that ambulances only began arriving at the scene 20 minutes after
the blast.
One eyewitness standing outside the airport in tears said: “I was thirty
meters away, some of my family are still there.
“There’s nothing left, everything is devastated. There’s nothing left.”
A government source confirmed to VRT broadcaster that it was an attack, while
Anke Fransen, spokeswoman for Brussels Airport, said there were multiple
injuries. “We can confirm that there have been two explosions in the
departure hall. We called the emergency services on the ground – they [are]
now provid[ing] first aid to the injured.”
No planes were landing at Brussels Airport which was in lockdown, and planes
were diverted to Antwerp and other nearby airports.
It will be closed until 6am Wednesday, with all flights diverted to nearby
airports in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Both Gatwick and Heathrow airports have ramped up security in the wake of the
attacks this morning.
A British Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are in close contact with
local authorities and are ready to assist any British nationals who may have
been affected by the explosions in Brussels.
“British nationals should follow the advice of local security
authorities and check our travel advice for updates.”
Another witness, Mr Versele was two or three storeys above the source of the
explosion but he said many people around him were hurt.
“The bomb was coming from downstairs. It was going up through the roof.
It was big.
“About 15 windows were just blown out from the entrance hall”, he
added.
Brussels residents were urged not to use their mobile phones to make calls or
browse the internet in the city centre as networks were saturated.
Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development
Cooperation in Belgium tweeted: “IMPORTANT: Brussels mobile networks
are getting saturated. Please contact through data messages: Facebook,
WhatsApp, Twitter. Avoid calls.”
Brussels airport posted on their Twitter account: “There have been 2
explosions at the airport. Building is being evacuated. Don’t come to the
airport area.”
They added: “Don’t come to the airport – airport is being evacuated.
Avoid the airport area. Flights have been cancelled.
“All airport operations have been suspended until further notice. Follow
the information on our website.
“Passengers that are still located in other areas in the airport are
asked to remain calm and wait for further information.”
The airport added: “Our thoughts go to the victims of the horrible events
that happened here at #brusselsairport this morning, their family and
friends.”
Belgium raised their terror threat level to the highest level, four, following
the explosions.
Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the EU Commission for Budget and Human
Resources, tweeted: “All EU institutions are at alert level ORANGE – all
meetings on premises and outside cancelled, access only for staff with
badges.”
Belgium’s Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, said the country was on high alert
for a possible revenge attack following the capture of the 26-year-old in a
flat in Brussels on Friday.
He said: “We know that stopping one cell can … push others into action.
We are aware of it in this case.”
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tweeted: “We are in contact
with Belgian authorities and checking if any Britons are caught up in
Brussels incidents.
“The Foreign Office helpline is 0207 008 0000.”
David Cameron tweeted: “I am shocked and concerned by the events in
Brussels. We will do everything we can to help.”
The British Consulate in Brussels said: “We are aware of an incident and
obviously we are here for the British nationals if any of them are hurt.”
If you are worried about a British national in Belgium contact the British
Embassy on 02070081500.
And Downing Street is flying the Belgian flag at half-mast alongside the Union
Jack, in solidarity with Belgium.
Police are stepping up security in key locations across the UK in the wake of
the events in Brussels.
Shocking Twitter photos show injured flyers inside the airport following the
blasts this morning.
Horrifying images also show injured people lying on the street outside
Maalbeek metro station.
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Videos show terrified passengers running from the airport terminal after the
explosions were heard.
Shattered glass can also be seen close to the airport’s entrance.
Social media reports scenes of panic as people fled the smoking building.
A crisis centre has been set up at the airport, and all transport to and from
it has been cancelled.
People have been told to abandon all luggage.
Coaches were being used by the authorities to evacuate crowds of people away
from the airport.
Who are the likely terror suspects behind the attack?
As Belgian emergency teams work to save the lives of critically injured
travellers caught up in this morning’s blast, investigators are quickly
turning their attention to the likely suspects.
With Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdesalem arrested in Brussels just days ago
and now reportedly cooperating with police, his accomplices are high on the
list.
Two men, Najim Laachraoui and Mohamed Abrini, remained on the run after
escaping from a police raid that led to the capture of Abdesalem on Friday.
One theory is that fearing Abdesalem with reveal secrets of their hiding
place, the pair may have hurriedly organised this morning’s attacks.
Laachraoui, 24, is said to have travelled to Syria in February 2013.
He was checked by guards at the Austria-Hungary border while driving in a
Mercedes with Abdeslam and one other person.
He is said to have rented a house under the name of Soufiane Kayal in the
Belgian town of Auvelais that was allegedly used as a safe house by the
terror cell.
Prosecutors said traces of his DNA were found at the property.
Meanwhile Abrini, 30, is a childhood friend of Abdesalem.
Abrini was captured on CCTV at a petrol station in Ressons, which is on the A1
motorway leading to Paris, days before the attacks.
One of the passengers in his black rented Renault Clio was identified as
Abdeslam. Abrini is still at large, and along with Laachraoui is now
Europe’s most wanted list.
Other possible suspects include two brothers – Khalid and Ibrahim El Bakraoui.
French police are currently searching for the pair.
Khalid, is known to have used a fake ID in order to rent an apartment in
Charleroi, Belgium, that was used as a hideout for the attackers.