It has been confirmed that a series of attacks on Brussels airport and a metro station has killed at least 23 people, reports say.
Two of the blasts struck the departures area of Zaventem airport shortly after 08:00 (07:00 GMT), and an hour later, explosions hit Maelbeek metro station. There have also been reports of other explosions, which are currently unconfirmed.
The metro system, which is close to the EU institutions, and the airport have been completely shut down. Belgium’s public broadcaster RTBF reported at least one suicide bomber was behind the explosions at the airport.
Belgian broadcaster VRT said at least 13 people are believed to have been killed and 35 have been severely injured at the airport, while Belgium’s VTM says ten people have been killed in the explosion at Maelbeek metro station.
Dramatic scenes from Brussels Airport explosions this morning https://t.co/c9fNdaOVwf pic.twitter.com/agavqb4UWj
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 22, 2016
Belga News Agency reports that shots were fired and shouts in Arabic were heard before the two explosions at Zaventem airport.
And some reports suggest that firefighters have discovered up to three more explosive devices.
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam – the main suspect in the November Paris attacks – was captured in Brussels.
Niels Caignau, a Swissport employee, told Flemish broadcaster VRT:
I was on a break and heard and felt a big explosion – we have from here a view over the departure hall and saw a plume of smoke come out.
The windows are completely shattered. People went outside in shock. It doesn’t look good.”
Belgium has now raised its terror threat to its highest level. More information soon.
