What To Know About the Brussels Terrorist Attacks

Three explosions hit Brussels on Tuesday morning, the first two at Zaventem airport and a separate blast an hour later on the subway near the European Union headquarters. At least 26 people were killed and scores injured. Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw called all three explosions terrorist attacks. Brussels has gone on lockdown: the airport, metro stations and museums and international train services have been shut down, halted or diverted. Residents were told to remain at home or at their place of work.

Airport:

The blasts happened at Brussels Airport, around 8am local time. The first explosion tore through the departure hall, while the second happened minutes later at another area of the aiprort. Val Leeuw confirmed that one of the airport explosions was carried out by a suicide bomber, but gave no details about the second blast. According to Reuters, the Belga agency said that there were shouts in Arabic and gunshots shortly before the blasts. Belgian media reported that a Kalashnikov AK-47 rifle was found at the airport.

Belgian Health Minister Maggie De Block said 11 were killed and 81 injured at the airport.

Reports initially suggest that the blast took place in front of an American Airlines desk. The airline sent out a statement saying that all employees were accounted for and no injuries were reported.

Daniel Widman, from Sweden, was travelling from Liberia to Sweden. He said: “I was sleeping and I was woken up by people screaming and running. I just followed the crowd. People came running down the stairs. People left their luggage and kept running. We were given no information in the terminal.”

Josh Balser, from the U.S, said:”In Terminal B this guy came running down the hall. I was in the lounge and heard a rumbling so thought something had hit the airport. Then they told us to go to the end of the hallway and eventually some guy was screaming ‘we found guns and ammunition, everybody leave your bags and exit the airport.’ He was airport personnel.”
Images and videos on social media showed shattered windows, fallen ceiling tiles and broken glass scattered around the departure hall. A plume of smoke is also seen rising from the terminal, with
passengers fleeing with their bags from the explosion.

Subway station:

Around 9.10 am, a blast hit Maelbeek station in the city centre, a short walk many European Union institutions and offices. Brussels transit spokesman Guy Sablon told reporters that 15 people were killed and 55 injured.

“For the moment, what we know is that there was at least one, possibly two explosions; we are still investigating,” Sandra Eyschen, a spokeswoman for the Belgian federal police, told the New York Times. “There are several injured, we don’t have any exact numbers, and, unfortunately, it appears there are some dead, at least one person.”

“There was smoke surrounding the buildings and the smell of burning everywhere,” said Andrew Wilson, a 28-year-old policy official who was inside the E.U. Thon Hotel near the subway station where the blast hit.

“The area I am in has been completely shut down. We’ve been
locked inside cafes,” Wilson told TIME, adding that the hotel is being used to house those who were in the Metro station at the time of the explosion.

Speaking to AP, Alexandre Brans, who was wiping blood from his face, described the moments before and after the explosion: “The metro was leaving Maelbeek station when there was a really loud explosion… It was panic everywhere. There were a lot of people in the metro.” Sky broadcast footage showing smoke streaming out of the station and victims being carried on stretchers.

The European Commission has asked its staff to stay indoors, while Reuters reports that Belgium is sending 225 extra troops to Brussels following the explosions.

The Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michels confirmed that, “what we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks,” adding, “we know there are many dead, many injured.” King Philippe of Belgium condemned the heinous attacks on Brussels.

All stations in the city’s bus, tram and Metro networks have been completely shut down in response to the attacks.

Brussels has been on high alert since the Paris attacks in November when Salah Abdeslam, a suspect, fled to Brussels. He was arrested on Friday.