Brussels Attack: ISIS Claims Responsibility, Third Suspect Wanted
13 dead, 35 injured in a series of explosions at airport and metro station in Brussels, Belgium.
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- ISIS claims responsibility for three blasts which ripped through the Zaventem airport and Maelbeek Metro station in Brussels, Belgium.
- 34 people have been killed in the blasts.
- European Monuments Lit with Belgian National Colours
- Police have issued a warrant against suspect seen at the airport.
- British PM David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande call for an emergency meeting.
- Public transportation system in Brussels is suspended.
- Explosion at Brussels airport result of a suicide attack.
- ISIS supporters praise blasts on social media.
- PM Modi will be in Brussels and will meet his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel on 30 March.
- Slovenian diplomat injured in Brussels blasts – Slovenian Foreign Minister.
Belgian Interior Minister Hints at Intelligence Underestimating the Threat
Belgium’s interior minister said that the authorities knew that some kind of extremist act was being prepared in Europe but that they were surprised by the scale of the attacks in Brussels.
European Monuments Lit with Belgian National Colours
Some of Europe’s best-known monuments have been illuminated with Belgium’s national colours in a show of solidarity after the attacks in Brussels.
At nightfall Tuesday, the Eiffel Tower in Paris lit up in the black, yellow and red colors of the Belgian flag.
Berlin’s landmark Brandenburg Gate was also lit up in Belgian colors. A few blocks away, some people laid flowers and lit candles outside the Belgian Embassy.
In Italy, Rome’s Trevi Fountain joined in the show of Belgium’s national colors.
US Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, in CNN interview, said that to do anything that implies the US is at war with an entire religion is “not only wrong but dangerous”.
Police Warrant Against Airport Suspect
Brussels police issue wanted notice for the terror suspect for bombing Zaventem airport in the city.
Calling for information they issued a photograph of a man, dressed in white and wearing a hat, pushing a luggage trolley.
The Zaventem airport in Brussels will be closed on Wednesday, the airport CEO has said, after the series of attacks in Brussels.
ISIS Claims Responsibility
ISIS claims responsibility for the series of attacks in the Belgian capital of Brussels on Tuesday, 22 March, according to Reuters.
EU leaders have made a joint statement saying the Brussels attacks have strengthened the resolve to defend European values.
In the statement, the 28 heads of state and government and the leaders of the EU institutions said:
Aftermath of the Blast
Mobile phone footage shows the moment travellers fled the scene after blasts ripped through Zaventem airport in Brussels, on Tuesday morning. The explosions occurred in the airport’s departure area and caused at least 34 deaths, with 200 more injured.
About 34 people were killed in two bomb attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, a spokesman for the national crisis response centre told reporters. This confirms the number that some 20 people died on a metro train and about 10 at the airport.
Obama Pledges Support to Belgium
US President Barack Obama condemns the attack on Brussels during his historic visit to Cuba.
Earlier on a call to Prime Minister Charles Michel, Obama promised support to Belgium.
Raids Underway In Brussels
The police raided several places in Brussels after the series of attacks in the city of Belgium.
Judicial sources have told RTBF on midday Tuesday that people linked to the attacks are being targetted, according to CNN.
At least one of the two airport explosions was a suicide bombing, Belgian federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said.
Use WiFi, Stay Connected Belgian Govt Tells
The Deputy Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has requested the people in Brussels to make use of public WiFi and use platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter.
The people in and around Brussels are responding positively to the mode of communication made available.
Nuclear Power Plant Evacuated
Belgium’s Tihange nuclear power plant has been evacuated by the police, public broadcaster VTM said without giving further details.
Tihange could not immediately be reached for comment.
Death Toll Rises to 34
The death toll after the series of blasts in Brussels, Belgium has risen to 34 according to the Belgian public broadcaster VRT, reports Reuters.
The Brussels police has found Kalashnikov assault rifle next to a dead attacker and an un-exploded bomb belt at the Brussels airport.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is co-ordinating with its Belgian counterparts in the Brussels attack probe.
Royal Family Evacuated
The royal family of Brussels has been evacuated, according to a CNN reporter.
EU Stands United
The flag of European Union was lowered to half mast in solidarity with the victims of the blasts.
Donald Trump
US Presidential Election runner Donald Trump has suggested closing up of the borders of Belgium, in an interview to Fox News, in reaction to the blasts in the country.
Slovenian Diplomat Injured in Brussels Blasts - Foreign Minister
A Slovenian diplomat was injured in the Brussels attacks on Tuesday, Slovenian Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec said.
Erjavec told a news conference that the diplomat, who he did not name, was in hospital and his life was not in danger.
Media reports said the diplomat was injured in the metro blast on his way to work.
The Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB) – the public transport operator in Brussels – has confirmed the death of 15 people in the blasts.
ISIS Supporters Praise Blasts on Twitter
Supporters of Islamic State praised on social media blasts in Brussels that killed about 20 people on Tuesday.
German Authorities Step up Security at Airports, Borders
German authorities have stepped up security measures at airports, train stations and the borders with Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg following explosions in Brussels, a spokesman for the federal police said on Tuesday.
An additional police presence was noticeable at Frankfurt airport and train station on Tuesday morning, a eyewitness to Reuters.
Modi to Visit Belgium
Prime Minister Narendra Modi to meet Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on 30 March as a part of the 13th India-European Union Summit, 2016, Spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs, Vikas Swarup has said.
Prime Minister of Belgium, Charles Michel, has said that the day is a black day for Belgium due to the attack.
Modi will then attend the 4th Nuclear Security Summit in Washington DC.
The Ministry of External Affairs has provided emergency numbers for Indians stranded in Brussels.
- +32-26409140
- +32-26451850 (PABX)
- +32-476748575 (mobile)
Hollande and David Cameron Call for an Emergency Meeting
Reuters reported that both British Prime Minister, David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande called an emergency meeting of senior government ministers on Tuesday after a series of explosions in Brussels.
PM Modi Reacts
Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj tweeted assuring that there were no reports on any Indian casualty, although, a female crew member of Indian origin has been injured and rushed to the hospital.
Emergency Numbers for Indians in Belgium
No Casualties in Metro Explosion
Quoting Belgian Public Broadcaster VRT, Reuters reported that no one was killed in an explosion in a Brussels Metro carriage on Tuesday. While separate reports had said at least 10 were dead.
Indian actress Gul Panag’s husband is in one of the Brussels-bound flights.
Jet Airways Cancels Flights Between Brussels and India
Jet Airways cancels three flights between Brussels, Delhi and Mumbai earlier scheduled for 22 and 23 March.
Location of Blasts at Brussels’ Zaventem Airport
British Sky News television’s Alex Rossi, who was at the airport, said he heard two “very, very loud explosions”.
Reuters quoted Alex Rossi as saying:
10 Dead in Metro Blast
At least 10 people died in the explosion that occurred at Maalbeek metro station in Brussels, according to Belgium Public Broadcaster VTM. In all, 23 people died in the explosions and 35 have been injured.
Transportation Systems Suspended
Public transportation system in Brussels has been halted as per the orders of Brussels Transport Authority. Reuters reported that the main railway stations in Brussels have been sealed. No trains will be running to or from Brussels. Eurostar advised its customers to postpone their travel dates.
The Belgian Crisis Centre told people, “Stay where you are.”
Death Toll Rises Further
As many as 13 people were killed on Tuesday in explosions in Brussels and another 35 were severely injured, Belgian broadcaster VRT said.
EU Commission Orders Staff to Stay Indoors
The two explosions at Brussels Airport was confirmed by the Belgian Crisis Centre.
The European Commission locked down its staff on Tuesday after explosions at Brussels airport and two metro stations close to the EU institutions, the vice president in charge of personnel tweeted.
A spokesman for officials working in the European Parliament nearby said the legislature was working normally.
Airport Blast Caused by a Suicide Attack
Belgian public broadcaster VRT said that the explosion at Brussels Airport was caused by a suicide attack.
No Indian Casualties
MEA says there are no reports of any Indian casualty and the ministry has spoken with the Indian ambassador
Meanwhile, CISF increased vigil at all metro stations in Delhi. Security was tightened in wake of high alert following the Belgium airport attack.
Security frisking has been increased at the Delhi airport as well.
Death Toll Rises
The death toll has risen to 10, while 30 have been injured, Reuters report quoting hospital sources said.
Fresh Explosions at Metro Stations
According to Belgian broadcaster RTBF, fresh explosions occurred at Maalbeek metro station in Brussels which are both close to EU institutions.
Brussels transport authority said that all metro stations in Brussels are shutting down.
Belgium Raises Security Alert to Maximum Level
Belgian Interior Minister, Jan Jambon said:
Shots were fired and words in Arabic shouted before two explosions on Tuesday in the departure hall of Brussels airport, Belgian news agency reported
All inbound flights heading to Brussels appeared to be making diversions soon after the explosions.
One person died and several were injured when explosions hit the departure hall of Brussels airport on Tuesday morning, Belgium’s Belga news agency said.
Phone video footage showing people running from the scene of the explosion was shared on social media within minutes.
The blasts occurred four days after the arrest, in Brussels, of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.
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