Brussels attacked
by Tom Sullivan
Reuters cites a Belgian Public Broadcaster VRT in reporting that a suicide attack rocked the airport in Brussels this morning killing 13 and severely injuring 35 as of this writing. The blasts hit just before 8 a.m. local time. Several news outlets report that explosions also occurred at the Maalbeek Metro station near the EU buildings in Brussels. No deaths reported there at this time. Others say 10 killed at Maalbeek. Early reports tend to be inaccurate.
The security presence at London’s Heathrow airport has been stepped up. France has deployed an additional 1,600 police to its borders.
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Confirming level 4 in place. https://t.co/rR50798bwa 1/4 #Brussels pic.twitter.com/VWlpbLdNWb— US Embassy Brussels (@usembbrussels) March 22, 2016
From Reuters’ live news blog:
The Belga agency said shots were fired and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the blasts at the airport. Pictures on social media showed smoke rising from the terminal building through shattered windows and passengers running away down a slipway, some still hauling their bags.
The blasts at the airport and metro station occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.
British Sky News television’s Alex Rossi, at the airport, said he heard two “very, very loud explosions”.
“I could feel the building move. There was also dust and smoke as well…I went towards where the explosion came from and there were people coming out looking very dazed and shocked.”
The Independent has this report (5:55 EDT):
Witnesses said the airport blasts happened shortly before 8am local time (7am GMT) in the departure hall near the check-in desks for American Airlines and Brussels Airlines.
Little over an hour later, another explosion was reported at the Maalbeek (Maelbeek) station, near the European Council headquarters and other EU buildings. The capital’s entire public transport system was being shut down.
LIVE COVERAGE: Brussels death toll rises to 11, fire brigade tells Belga news agency – https://t.co/1jPULc0n3R pic.twitter.com/bHZDXgjxvl— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) March 22, 2016
Our prayers for the victims and the people of Brussels.