At least 13 people have reportedly been killed and
dozens severely injured after two explosions ripped
through Zaventem Airport in Brussels in an apparent
suicide attack.
Shots were fired and Arabic shouted before the bomb
blasts, according to Belgian news agency Belga, as
there were fresh reports of an explosion at Maalbeek
metro station in the city.
The explosion at the city's Maalbeek metro station
Metro Trains Evacuated As Blast Hits Station
The country's public broadcaster VRT said there were
up to 13 people dead and a further 35 wounded.
Zach Mouzoun, who arrived on a flight from Geneva
about 10 minutes before the first blast, told France's
BFMTV: "It was atrocious. The ceilings collapsed.
There was blood everywhere, injured people, bags
everywhere.
"We were walking in the debris. It was a war scene."
Video and images on social media showed smoke
rising from an airport building and shattered
windows.
Confused and shocked passengers fled the terminal to
safety as they were evacuated by armed police.
Footage also showed ceiling tiles littered across the
floor and strewn black luggage belts, cases and bags
at a check-in desk.
According to reports the suspected terror attack
centred on an American Airlines desk in a departure
hall at around 8am.
Airport spokeswoman Anke Fransen said: "There were
two blasts in the departure hall. First aid team are in
place for help."
A police official added: "One person has died and
perhaps there are several more."
The attack comes as the Belgian capital is on high
alert following the dramatic arrest of Paris attacks
suspect Salah Abdeslam in the city last Friday.
Sky's Alex Rossi, at the scene, said: "I was in the duty
free in Zaventem Airport and I heard two very, very
loud explosions.
"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 although that hasn't been verified by any of
the authorities here at the airport.
"Don't know how the explosion took place, the
method if you like. But it certainly seems Brussels
airport has been targeted in a terrorist attack.
"We are all being moved out of the airport now
towards the emergency exit.
"There is a great deal of confusion here. Certainly
there are a number of very upset, as you might
imagine, very frightened people."
He added: "There are fears that there might be other
attackers."
Eurostar services - and all trains to the airport have
been suspended which has been closed until further
notice.
The city's metro stations were also shut as
Belgium hiked its terror threat to its highest level
following the apparent coordinated attacks.
All EU staff have also been told to remain indoors or
at home.
Source: Sky News
0 comments:
Post a Comment