Terrorist Bombing Strikes Brussels Airport: What We Know
By Bill Chappell
Terrorist Bombing Strikes Brussels Airport: What We Know
By Bill ChappellAt least 26 people are dead and more than 100 wounded, after explosions struck Brussels during the Tuesday morning rush hour, Belgian officials say. Two blasts hit the international airport; another struck a metro station. Belgium has issued a Level 4 alert, denoting “serious and imminent attack.”
The number of dead and wounded could rise, as Belgian emergency agencies are focused on responding to those in need. Information is still emerging about this attack, and some reports may later prove inaccurate. Here’s what we know so far:
Brussels’ Zaventem Airport
A suicide attacker struck around 8 a.m. local time, according to a federal prosecutor. The explosions hit near the departure gates, collapsing ceiling panels and shattering glass windows. The blasts sent smoke billowing from the airport and set off a panic as people ran from the airport with whatever they could carry.
The facility has now been evacuated and closed, with emergency crews looking after the wounded and security personnel gathering any evidence that might provide details about those responsible.
The attack began after a burst of gunfire and yelling in Arabic, according to Belgian media outlets.
Maelbeek Station
Around 9:11 a.m. local time, an explosion on a metro train in or near the Maelbeek station caused chaos close to the European Union headquarters in the city’s center.
The station is about 7 miles from the airport. Images of the aftermath of that attack show people running for safety along the tracks through a darkened and smoke-filled tunnel, after trains were halted.
To clarify information that went out in an NPR news alert earlier this morning: There have been at least three explosions — two at the airport and one at a train station. An early report suggested there were three explosions on the subway.
Accounts From The Scene
Gabriele Steinhauser, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal, who’s in Brussels, relayed witness accounts to NPR’s Morning Edition:
“Parts of the ceiling fell down. There was a lot of water from pipes breaking. People who were there during the explosions said there were scenes of chaos. It took about 10 minutes for security personnel to arrive. There were mothers with children and old people who didn’t know what to do.
“People felt like the authorities were badly prepared, and when they were led out of the airport they were led right through the place where the explosions happened. People say there was a lot of blood.”
The Response
Brussels has ordered all its tunnels closed to traffic, and the city is under a lockdown. The city’s airport is closed for the day, and flights are being rerouted to nearby cities.
The public transit system in Brussels was shut down. Eurostar train service between London and Brussels has also been suspended.
Security officials in France and Germany are increasing their vigilance in the wake of the attacks.
Belgium’s Crisis Center is urging residents not to use the phones, saying the system is saturated.
Beyond Belgium
The attack comes four days after Belgian and French police arrested Salah Abdeslam, a central suspect in the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris. Authorities are still looking for his accomplices in that attack — including one man, Laachroui Najim, whose true identity was only recently revealed.
The U.S. Embassy in Brussels is urging American citizens to shelter in place.
European Union institutions are at an Orange alert level, with normal business suspended and restricted access.
This is a developing story. Some things that get reported by the media will later turn out to be wrong. We will focus on reports from police officials and other authorities, credible news outlets and reporters who are at the scene. We will update as the situation develops.
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