Brussels hit by explosions at Zaventem airport and metro station

As many as 23 reported dead after blasts at Zaventem airport and at metro station near European Union buildings in Belgian capital

Brussels has been rocked by explosions at an airport and metro station, with reports of multiple casualties.

Two explosions struck Zaventem airport and a separate blast hit a metro station near European Union buildings in the Belgian capital shortly after.

Belgian media reported that as many as 13 people were killed at the airport, with 35 injured, and 10 killed at the metro station. These tolls have not been confirmed by police.

The Belgian state broadcaster said the airport explosions were caused by a suicide attack. All flights were cancelled, arriving planes were being diverted and Belgium’s terror alert was raised to its maximum level. Security was also tightened at all Paris airports.

The explosions took place in the departure hall at about 8am local time. TV pictures showed people fleeing the terminal, while smoke billowed from the roof of the airport. A false ceiling collapsed, causing lots of dust and smoke. The airport has been closed and people advised not to travel to the area.

One witness, Gil Durand, told Le Soir that the first explosion occurred in the departure lounge, followed by another a few seconds later. “The ambulances arrived slowly, people were evacuated, there was a lot of smoke,” she said. She added that many of the injured were wearing the uniforms of Brussels airport and Brussels Airlines.

Controls have been stepped up at Charleroi airport, about 46km to the south of Brussels.

Rescue workers set up a makeshift treatment centre in a local pub near the entrance to the Maelbeek metro station, not far from the headquarters of the European Union.

Dazed and shocked commuters streamed from the metro entrances as police tried to set up a security cordon.
“The metro was leaving Maelbeek station when there was a really loud explosion,” Alexandre Brans, 32, told AP, wiping blood from his face. “It was panic everywhere. There were a lot of people in the metro.”

There has been no official confirmation that Tuesday’s blasts were a terrorist attack.

They occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the November terrorist attacks on Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.