Suicide attack in Brussels claims at least 23 lives

21/03/2016

BRUSSELS (SW): Explosions tore through the departure hall of Brussels airport on Tuesday morning killing at least 23 people and injuring 35 others, according to a federal Belgian prosecutor.

Authorities have confirmed that it was a suicide attack.

Shortly afterwards, a second blast struck a metro station in the capital, close to European Union (EU) institutions. The Belga news agency said shots were fired at the airport and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the explosions.

Shortly after the first attack, another blast was heard at Maelbeek metro station, Belgian broadcaster RTBF said. The European Commission has locked down its staff and all public transport across the city has been closed.

The blasts 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.

Social media showed pictures of smoke rising from the departure hall where windows had been shattered by the blasts. Passengers were seen running away down a slipway.

Belgium's Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, said on Monday the country was on high alert for a possible revenge attack following the capture of 26-year-old Abdeslam.

"We know that stopping one cell can… push others into action. We are aware of it in this case," he told public radio.

ENDS

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