Brussels Airport and Metro explosions: How events unfolded as passengers killed in blasts at Zaventem airport and Maalbeek Metro station

Explosions: The walking wounded in Brussels Airport
Mark Chandler22 March 2016

Brussels was today rocked by a series of terrorist attacks which have killed scores of people.

Blasts beside check-in desks at the Belgian capital's airport killed many passengers, with dozens of others left injured.

Many more people died or were seriously hurt during a third explosion at Maalbeek Metro.

Here is what we know so far:

  • Two explosions, one believed to have been caused by a suicide bomber, rocked Brussels Zaventem Airport at around 7am UK time.
  • Around one hour later, an explosion occurred at Maalbeek Metro station, near the EU quarter.
  • The death toll from all three explosions is estimated to be 34, with 14 reportedly killed at the airport and a further 20 at the Metro, according to the city’s mayor.
  • About 170 people are believed to have been injured by the blasts.
  • Downing Street confirmed one British national at the airport is among those to have been injured.
  • Local media reported that shouts in Arabic were heard and shots were fired during the airport attack.
  • Two Kalashnikov rifles and an unexploded bomb belt were found at the airport in the aftermath of the blasts, according to local media.
  • Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel condemned the “blind, violent and cowardly” attacks, which were greeted by condemnation around the world.
  • Isis has claimed responsibility for the atrocities, which came days after Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the Paris terror attacks, was arrested in the Belgian capital.

How events unfolded today until 3pm:

15:00: A US official said security workers believe at least one suitcase bomb was detonated at Brussels Airport this morning.

The official, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the early investigations, confirmed a statement by a Brussels official that there is also evidence of one suicide bombing at the airport.

U.S. intelligence agencies had been on alert for possible attacks since Friday's arrest in Belgium of accused Paris attacks conspirator Salah Abdeslam.

But the official said it was unclear if Tuesday's bombings were already planned and set in motion by his or another existing network, or if they were a direct response to Abdeslam's arrest.

14.18: Labour's candidate for Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has been speaking about the attacks. He said: “The attack on Brussels today is sickening and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

“This is not just an attack on the people of Brussels – it is an attack on our shared way of life.

“These hideous crimes were committed by evil people in the name of a grotesque and perverse ideology.

“Our first priority must be to ensure that we do everything necessary to keep Londoners safe.”

14.13: A Belgian TV station is reporting that at least one of the bombs at the airport contained nails.

Flemish language broadcaster VTM interviewed Marc Decramer of the Gasthuisberg hospital in Leuven, who says the hospital is treating 11 people with serious injuries, three of them in critical condition.

Decramer said the wounded have fractures and deep cuts caused by flying glass and nails.

14.06: La Libre has also reported that hundreds of people are gathering to write messages of peace in a pedestrianised area in front of the city's stock exchange.

Messages include "Together, long live peace" and "Brussels Forever".

According to the paper, a message written in Arabic said: "Islam is innocent of terrorism."

14.02: La Libre newspaper is reporting that Brussels railway stations will reopen at 4pm local time, with an increased military presence.

13.56: The Muslim Council of Britain issued a statement condemning the attacks in Brussels.

Dr Shuja Shafi, the organisation's Secretary General, said: “We are shocked to hear about the terror attacks in Brussels, coming as they did only a few days after the horrific atrocities in Istanbul. I hope the killers are brought to justice and face the full force of the law.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, families and communities affected.

"As we come to terms with yet another attack on European soil, we must redouble our efforts to work together to defeat terrorism wherever it comes from. These mass murderers want to divide our society and pit people against each other. We must deny them this goal at every conceivable opportunity.”

13.48: Marc Noel, 63, who was waiting for a flight to Atlanta when the explosions struck at the airport, said he was saved by the decision to go and buy some car magazines.

"People were crying, shouting, children. It was a horrible experience. I don't want to think about it, but I would probably have been in that place when the bomb went off.

"This feel likes war - fire engines, police everywhere".

13.43: The Mayor of Brussels Yvan Mayeur has said at least 20 people died in attack at Maalbeek Metro station, which is near the EU's headquarters.

13.38: Belgian taxi drivers are being urged to offer free rides to those in Brussels

13.34: Prime Minister David Cameron has tweeted his support to Belgium

13.30: The Mayor of Brussels has now said at least 20 people died in the Metro attack at Maelbeek near the EU's headquarters.

A previous announcement by Metro operators had said at least 15 people were killed.

13.24: Belgium's Tihange nuclear power plant has now been evacuated according to broadcaster VTM.

13.22: Alphonse Lyoura, who was working at Brussels Airport when the attack happened, told BFM TV: "I heard a shot.

"But after the shot, I heard someone speaking in an Arabic language and after he had finished speaking I heard the explosion. Everyone was panicked."

Hooded Belgian police officers patrol outside the Gare du Midi train station in Brussels AP Photo/Michel Spingler​
AP Photo/Michel Spingler

13.16: Broadcaster VTM said a bomb squad would detonate a belt reportedly found inside the airport.

The broadcaster said the bomb squad was also checking a suspect package at the University of Brussels.

13.12: Police have discovered an unexploded bomb belt inside the airport, according to Belgian broadcaster VTM.

13.07: Armed police have arrested two men near Brussels North station, according to reports.

Images shared on social media showed the men being pinned to the ground before kneeling with their hands behind their heads.

13.00: Police in the Netherlands say they have halted an international train from Brussels to Amsterdam at a station just one stop from the Dutch capital's busy Schiphol Airport as a precaution and are searching the train and its passengers.

Local police said on Twitter that Hoofddorp station had been evacuated and will stay closed until the investigation is completed. Passengers were being put up in nearby hotels.

There was no immediate word of any arrests and police did not say what prompted them to stop the train. The incident came just hours after deadly attacks on the Brussels airport and a city subway station.

Photos spread on social media are showing armed police patrolling the Dutch train station.

12.57: Belgian officials say 26 people are dead and at least 136 wounded following the attacks.

Earlier, Belgian health minister Maggie de Block said 11 people are dead and 81 have been injured in twin explosions at the Brussels airport.

A Brussels subway spokesman said 15 people have been killed and 55 were injured in an explosion at the Maelbeek train station.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks.

12.53: A spokeswoman for Number 10 has said one British national was injured in the explosions but there is no confirmation of any other casualties.

A road is shut between Maelbeek station and Arts-Loi in Brussels Shigeo Sugimoto​
Shigeo Sugimoto

12.49: Belgium and Manchester City football captain Vincent Kompany, who grew up in Molenbeek, tweeted: "Horrified and revolted. Innocent people paying the price again. My thoughts are with the families of the victims.

"I wish for Brussels to act with dignity. We are all hurting, yet we must reject hate and its preachers. As hard as it may be."

12.46: Syria has said the attacks were the "inevitable result of wrong policies and a tolerance for terrorism", and called for an international effort to confront the phenomenon.

A foreign ministry source, quoted by state news agency SANA, also said the attacks were the consequence of some countries "describing terrorist groups as moderate".

The Syrian government says all armed groups fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad are terrorists. Assad's Western opponents have designated Islamic State and the Nusra Front as terrorist groups, but say many Syrian rebels belong to moderate factions.

"Syria, which has confronted takfiri terrorism for five years renews its call to combine all sincere international efforts to confront the danger of terrorism," SANA quoted the ministry source as saying.

12.42: Norwich City footballer Dieumerci Mbokani was at Zaventem Airport during the explosion.

His club said the centre forward, who is on loan from Dynamo Kiev, was "unharmed but shaken" in the attack and has returned home to his family.

12.34: Prime Minister David Cameron said this afternoon there was, as yet, no "hard information" about British casualties in the Brussels attacks.

Mr Cameron said the countries of Europe need to "stand together against these appalling terrorists and make sure they can never win."

An injured man sits at Brussels Airport after the blast PA
PA

12.25: Belgian public broadcaster VRT is now reporting the the death toll has been raised to 34, with 20 people killed in the blast on a Metro train and 14 in explosions at the airport.

12.21: British police are appealing for any UK nationals or media who were in Brussels and may have images of footage of the incidents to come forward.

Police have activated a website where images and videos can be uploaded.

Anyone who may have information that could assist the investigation should call the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

Concerned British nationals can also call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 0000. Advice is also available online.

12.16: Boris Johnson has told reporters: "It looks as though there may be one UK casualty, as I'm sure you are aware, though the details of that are very sketchy.

"The most important thing to get across is we know of no reason to think that there is any read across from what's happened in Brussels to events here in this city.

"We have no intelligence to suggest there is any immediate threat, but as a precaution and for the purposes of reassurance, there has been a stepping up of the presence of police at major airports."

Attack: Passengers and staff are evacuated from the Brussels Airport terminal building following the blasts EPA
EPA

12.14: House searches are ongoing in the Brussels region after the attacks, according to public broadcaster RTBF.

12.11: Mayor of London Boris Johnson says there may be one British casualty in today's terror attack.

12.08: British Transport Police say they will be "highly visible" across the rail and Tube network today.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas said: “The safety of the travelling public and rail staff in England, Scotland and Wales remains our absolute priority.

"British Transport Police will continue to have highly visible officers across the train and tube network and as a precaution following the events in Brussels, is deploying extra resources at key locations.

“This does not mean we have specific intelligence about those stations where the officers are posted, just that we are prepared for any eventuality.

"The national threat level is currently unchanged and remains ‘severe’ which means everyone has a responsibility to stay alert and report any activity or items which seem suspicious.

“We ask that you take particular care for keeping your personal belongings with you at all times. At a time when sensitivity is heightened, a misplaced bag or piece of forgotten luggage could present a serious cause for concern and is something which is easily avoidable.

“Tackling those who seek to disrupt our way of life is never going to be easy, but by the public and the authorities working we can manage the risks more easily."

12.04: The Belgian health minister said 11 people were killed in the airport bombing and 81 were wounded. Previous reports suggested 13 people were dead.

It has also emerged that Belgium's royal palace in central Brussels was evacuated following the Metro bomb blast.

11.58: Belgian media are reporting that weapons have been found at the airport.

According to reports, a Kalashnikov was found in the departure hall.

11.51: US Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump has weighed in on the Brussels attacks in typically blunt fashion.

Mr Trump said the United States and Western countries should toughen up in their fight against Islamist militants.

"I would close up our borders," Trump told Fox News in an interview.

He added: "We are lax and we are foolish."

11.40: German Chancellor Angela Merkel's chief of staff has called for solidarity with Belgium.

Peter Altmaier tweeted: "Terrorists will never win."

He added: "Our European values much stronger than hate, violence, terror!"

But Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says the West's politics of "double standards" have led to terrorist attacks and that frozen diplomatic relations between NATO and Russia have slowed the fight with terrorism.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, offered its condolences to Belgium and expressed solidarity after the attacks Tuesday that left scores dead.

And the European Commission said countries would "stand together" against terrorism.

11.37: Mayor of Paris Anne Hildago tweeted the Eiffel Tower would be lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag this evening.

11.32: Facebook has activated its "safety check" system to help people check on friends and loved ones.

The company said the system was put in use within hours of the three explosions.

It said the system can provide an easy way for people to mark themselves as "safe" after a major disaster or crisis so that people searching for them will know they are unharmed.

The system has been used recently to help people communicate after major floods and earthquakes as well as terrorist attacks.

11.25: All flights between the UK and the main airport in Brussels have been cancelled for the rest of today after the attacks.

Brussels Airport announced that it will be closed until Wednesday following two explosions in the departure hall.

Brussels Airlines cancelled 25 flights between UK airports - Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh - and Brussels.

Eight flights between Heathrow and Brussels were cancelled by British Airways.

All Eurostar trains to and from Brussels were suspended, with services from London terminating in the French city of Lille.

Security has also been stepped up at transport hubs in the UK.

11.18: Brussels Metro operator STIB-MIVB has tweeted that at least 15 people are confirmed dead and another 50 were injured during theattack at Maelbeek station this morning.

11.06: Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said one of the explosions at Brussels Airport this morning was likely to have been caused by a suicide bomber.

He said: "This morning there were two explosions in the departure hall at Zaventem (Brussels Airport), one of them probably caused by a suicide bomber and about half an hour later an explosion at Maelbeek."

11.03: A Belgian federal prosecutor has said that all three explosions "were terrorist attacks"

But Belgian prime minister Charles Michel says there is no information now on whether the attacks are related to last week's arrest of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam.

10.57: Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel sayid "what we feared has happened" and authorities are worried there will be more attacks.

Speaking a news conference in Brussels, he said: "There are many dead, many injured."

Mr Michel said border controls have been reinforced.

He said "We realise we face a tragic moment. We have to be calm and show solidarity."

10.50: The Metro explosion killed 15 and injured 55, 10 critically, transport operator STIB told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, quoted by broadcaster France Info, said: "We face a particularly elevated threat. We are at war. In Europe we have been subjected to acts of war for several months."

10.45: London Mayor Boris Johnson told Sky News: "I want to stress we have no intelligence that suggests there's any imminent plan against this city.

We are stepping up a presence at transport hubs and major airports, but that is purely for the purpose of reassurance and does not reflect any intelligence we have about a threat to London."

10.40: Brussels police spokesman Christian De Coninck has confirmed there were deaths at the Maelbeek Metro station near the European Union headquarters.

Earlier, there were reports 10 people had died in a blast there but Mr De Coninck was unable to confirm the number.

He said: "There are victims, serious injury, people have died. I have no idea yet on the numbers of injured or dead."

10.27: Belgium has sent an extra 225 troops to Brussels following the attacks.

French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the country was deploying an extra 1,600 police at its borders.

President Francois Hollande called an emergency meeting of senior government ministers on Tuesday after a series of explosions in Brussels.

10.24: Heathrow Airport says there will be an increased police presence there today.

A spokesman said: "We take the safety and security of our passengers and colleagues very seriously.

In the light of events in Brussels airport, we are working with the police at Heathrow who are providing a high visibility presence.

"We expect flights to Brussels Airport to be affected and ask passengers travelling there to check their flight status with their airline."

10.22: The Met Police are ramping up their presence around London's transport network but say it is not related to any specific intelligence.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing, said: “Our thoughts are with the people of Brussels following this morning’s horrific attacks.

“As a precaution forces across the UK have increased policing presence at key locations, including transport hubs, to protect the public and provide reassurance. This is not in relation to any specific information or intelligence.

“In London specifically, the Metropolitan Police Service has mobilised additional officers, who will carry out highly visible patrols at key locations around the Capital including the transport network.The number of officers deployed will be regularly assessed.These additional officers are deployed as part of reassurance measures.

“The police presence across London and the rest of the UK is constantly under review

“We are in close liaison with the Belgium authorities and will continue to monitor the situation.

“The threat to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe as it has been since August 2014, meaning an attack is highly likely.

“We urge the public and businesses to be alert but not alarmed and report anything suspicious to the confidential Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency always call 999.”

10.19: Jordy van Overmeir was waiting in the baggage area after having just landed at the airport from Bangkok when the explosion took place.

He told Sky News: "I got my luggage and then all of a sudden I heard a loud explosion - this boom. Initially I thought it was the sound of a suitcase falling down ...

"At this point I saw all these policemen running around, shouting and saying 'there was an explosion'."

Outside the baggage claim area and the arrival hall he could "smell smoke and see glass and I saw blood".

He said: "Then I came outside of the airport on the parking lot and there I saw people with head wounds, people crying, more blood on the road and glass everywhere."

He took a proper look at the airport building and said the "glass is out" on the upper floors where the departure hall is.

He said: "There was a lot of panic, with people running around. Policemen, military everywhere. There were ambulances going around. People seemed really shocked ... Everyone seems very shocked and very sad."

10.15: Video has been published of people being led off a Metro train after this morning's explosion.

10.11: Brussels Airport issued a statement confirming that all flights have been cancelled for the rest of the day.

Passengers are advised to contact their airline for further instructions.

Meanwhile, American Airlines said all its staff were safe.

10.05: The Brussels attacks would have taken "quite a while" to plan as they involved explosives and targeting an airport, an international security expert has said.

Shashank Joshi, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, urged caution in viewing the atrocities solely as revenge for the arrest of Paris plotter Salah Abdeslam.

He said: "This would take quite a while to plan, particularly involving an explosive, involving an airport. We should be wary of seeing it purely as a retaliation for Salah Abdeslam's arrest."

Terrorists risk the higher security at sites like airports in a bid to gain international attention, he said.

"It is higher security than a metro stop or a concert venue. It's an international site. It's almost a trade-off between dealing with higher security and the number of headlines."

10.10: American Airlines says all its staff are safe.

10.03: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte says Belgium has "again been hit by cowardly and murderous attacks.

He said: "Our hearts go out to the victims and next of kin. The Netherlands stands ready to help and support our southern neighbors in any possible way."

Rutte said that "extra alertness is necessary, also in our country. We will take all necessary precautionary measures."

He called a meeting Tuesday of his government's Ministerial Crisis Committee to discuss the attacks.

10.02: Labour MEP Claude Moraes, the chairman of the European Parliament's civil liberties, justice and home affairs committee, said if the incidents on the metro and at Brussels' main international airport were terrorist attacks they would be a clear attempt to send a political message.

He said Belgium had a high number of radicalised Islamic extremists and an attack was "inevitable".

The London MEP said: "This was a tragedy waiting to happen for Brussels because of the number of so-called home-grown foreign fighters - the concentration is the highest in Europe."

10.00: Dramatic photos continue to emerge of the aftermath in Brussels this morning.

Brussels terror attacks

1/16

The Belgian FA said: "Football is not important today. Training is cancelled."

9.57: What we know so far:

At least 13 people have been killed and around 35 injured in a series of explosions at Brussels Airport and on the city's subway system.

Witnesses described the ceiling caving in and blood everywhere after two explosions in the departure hall at the airport.

Francoise Ledune, a spokeswoman for the Brussels metro, said on BFM television that there appeared to have been just one explosion on the network, in a train that had stopped at Maelbeek.

All flights have been cancelled, arriving planes and trains are diverted and Belgium's terror alert level has been raised to maximum.

The blasts come just days after the main suspect in the November attacks in Paris was arrested in the Belgian capital.

9.53: Belgian broadcaster RTBF quoted a public prosecutor saying the airport explosion was a suicide attack.

The country's prime minister Charles Michel tweeted: "For the moment, we are asking people to stay where they are."

9.50: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has updated its travel advice for Brussels.

It issued a statement which read: "You should stay away from crowded places and avoid public transport at this time."

British officials in the city have been given the same instructions, the FCO said.

9.32: Authorities at Brussels Airport have tweeted a phone number for people concerned about family or friends.

9.31: Zach Mouzoun, who arrived on a flight from Geneva about 10 minutes before the first blast, said the second, louder explosion brought down ceilings and ruptured pipes, mixing water with victims’ blood.

“It was atrocious. The ceilings collapsed,” he said. “There was blood everywhere, injured people, bags everywhere.”

“We were walking in the debris. It was a war scene,” he said.

Jeffrey Edison, who had been inside the airport heading towards his gate, added: “There were several hundred people who suddenly started running away from the security control and we had no news.

“So we all slowly started moving in the same direction.”

9.26: Londoner Anthony Barrett watched the airport chaos unfold from his hotel room opposite the airport. After hearing two loud explosions he told how police were evacuating the airport in the minutes after.

“From my hotel room I can see one person lying on the ground,” he tweeted. “Fire engines and more ambulances arriving. I can see someone being rushed away on a stretcher.”

He added: “Multiple casualties. Some being taken to ambulances on luggage trolleys. I have now seen 22 stretchered casualties.”

Mr Barrett, who works for the Wales audit office at one point told how armed police and soldiers were aking cover behind parked cars.

He wrote: “May have a suspect cornered. Hotel being used as an evacuation and casualty centre. Currently using bomb dogs to sweep the hotel.”

9.22: There are unconfirmed reports 10 people have died during attacks on the Metro, with at least 15 people seriously injured.

9.20: Belgian rail operators have said all of Brussels' main railway stations have been closed in the wake of the attacks.

Dutch military have been drafted in to boost security at the country's airports and borders.

9.17: A video has been released showing people fleeing in terror as explosions rocked Brussels Airport.

9.12: Evan Lamos, who was travelling on the subway at the time of the blast at the metro station, tweeted: “On the Metro between Schuman and Maelbeek. We have just been stopped due to an ‘incident on the line’. Can hear soft thudding in distance.

“We felt a blast of air and my ears popped shortly after leaving Schuman station. The Metro stopped immediately.

“We are being evacuated from the back of the Metro, between Schuman and Maelbeek.

“Smoke in the tunnel as we evacuate. Just arrived at Schuman station after walking on the tracks.”

9.10: David Cameron said he will chair a meeting of the Government's emergency Cobra committee in response to the explosions in Brussels.

9.08: A witness at Maelbeek station told Belgian broadcaster RTBF: "We left Maelbeek station towards the centre at around 9.07, 9.10, when we felt an explosion which appeared to come from the front of the train.

"The lights went off, there was panic given what happened at Brussels airport.

"The doors of the train were forced open to get off the train. There was a lot of smoke. We left via Maelbeek station. The glass doors were blown out. The explosion must have been violent."

9.04: Eurostar says its services are running but with delays.

9.01: Local media has now reported that 13 people have died and 35 been severely injured after explosions in the city.

8.58: An Associated Press reporter said he saw several people with facial injuries following an explosion in a metro station near European Union headquarters. At least two people were seen being moved on stretchers

Alexandre Brans, 32, who was wiping blood from his face, said: "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."

8.57: Reports Eurostar services have been suspended after this morning's attacks - more on this if we get confirmation.

8.52: Belgian media are now reporting the city's museums will remain closed for the day.

8.50: Belgian media are reporting the airport attack was a suicide bombing.

8.49: Bosses at Heathrow Airport say they are working with police who are providing a "high visibility presence" at the airport.

Passengers flying to Brussels are being advised to check with their airline.

8.46: Prime Minister David Cameron has said he is "shocked and concerned by the events in Brussels".

He added: "We will do everything we can to help."

8.45 Belgian public broadcaster RTBF is now reporting the explosions at the departure hall of Brussels Airport have killed up to 10 people and injured 30 others.

The Belga agency said shots were fired and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the blasts at the airport.

Sky News journalist Alex Rossi, at the airport, said he heard two "very, very loud explosions".

He said: "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 thinking here is that it is some kind of terrorist attack - that hasn't been verified by any of the authorities here at the airport."

Scenes of carnage: Blown out windows at Brussels Airport following the explosions
Jef Versele/PA

8.40: Jef Versele, 40, from Ghent, Belgium, was at the airport when he heard the two explosions.

He said: "I was on my way to check in and two bombs went off - two explosions," he said.

"I didn't see anything. Everything was coming down. Glassware. It was chaos it was unbelievable. It was the worst thing."

"People were running away, there were lots of people on the ground. A lot of people are injured.

"The bomb was coming from downstairs. It was going up through the roof. It was big.

"About 15 windows were just blown out from the entrance hall".

8.39: This useful map gives an idea of where this morning's attacks have taken place:

8.35: All Metro stations in the capital are now closing following the explosions.

A video has been posted on Twitter which claims to show the aftermath of the Maalbeek Metro explosion.

8.33: Belgian broadcaster RTBF​ is reporting an explosion at Brussels Metro Station close to EU institutions.

8.29: Video footage has been posted on Facebook which appears to show the aftermath of the airport explosions.

8.27: Prime Minister Charles Michel said they were monitoring the situation "minute by minute" and top priority went to the victims.

8.23: Reports in Belgium that there has been a separate explosion at Maalbeek Metro station in the city. More on this to follow.

8.21: The Associated Press news agency reported that the Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon has announced the country's terror threat level has gone up to maximum after this morning's blasts

8.12: Belgian media reported that shots were fired before the explosions, and people were also said to have been heard shouting in Arabic.

8.08: Pictures have emerged of the walking wounded and people running from the airport

8.04: People have been urged not to come to the airport this morning.

7.55: There have been two explosions at Brussels Airport this morning, with local media reporting at least 11 people are feared dead.

The explosions happened during the rush hour as hundreds of passengers were trying to check in.

Airport spokeswoman Anke Fransen said: "There were two blasts in the departure hall. First aid team are in place for help."

Passengers were led onto the tarmac and people were urged not to come to the airport.

The explosions happened only days after Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the Paris attacks, was arrested in Brussels.

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