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BRUSSELS, HOME OF the European Union and NATO, was hit today by bomb attacks at the airport and in the metro that killed 34 people.
Authorities say some of those responsible for the carnage might still be at large and have asked media not to report on details of the ongoing investigation. The blasts occurred four days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the prime suspect in the Paris terror attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.
Here is a timeline of what happened earlier today:
- Around 7.00am (8.00am local time): Two blasts hit Zaventem international airport outside Brussels. Witnesses cited by the Belga news agency say they first heard shots in the departure hall before someone shouted in Arabic and then two explosions occurred.
- Shortly before 8.00am: Federal police say at least one person is dead and several others wounded.
The airport is closed and a crisis cell meets at the interior ministry.
- Shortly after 8.00am: A third explosion rocks the Maalbeek metro station near the EU headquarters. Around a dozen injuries are reported at first.
- 8.15am: Belgium moves to its highest level of terror alert.
- Shortly before 9.00am: The European Commission tells staff to stay home or in their offices.
- Shortly after 9.00am: The federal prosecutor’s office issues a casualty toll of at least 13 dead and 35 wounded at the airport.
- Shortly before 9.30am: The crisis centre asks inhabitants to stay put, and all public transport systems grind to a halt.
Security is reinforced in airports, train stations and public transport systems in Paris, while airports in Frankfurt, London, Moscow and the Netherlands beef up their measures too. The border between Belgium and the Netherlands is reinforced.
- Shortly before 10.00am: Fire services say at least 21 people have died, including 11 at the airport.
High-speed Thalys trains between Belgium, France and the Netherlands stop running.
- 10.15am: European Council President Donald Tusk condemns the “terrorist attacks”.
- Shortly before 10.30am: Police and soldiers reinforce security around Belgium’s nuclear power plants.
- 10.43am: Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel condemns the “blind, violent and cowardly” attacks.
- 10.46am: Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the Eiffel Tower will be lit in Belgium’s national colours and calls for a silent vigil in the evening in Paris.
- Shortly before 11.00am: Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw says one airport blast was “probably caused by a suicide bomber”.
- 11.00am: “The whole of Europe has been hit,” says French President Francois Hollande.
- 11.15am: Brussels transport operator STIB says the metro blast killed at least 15 people and wounded at least 55, including 30 seriously.
Eurostar train service between London and Brussels is suspended.
- 12.30pm: “We will never let these terrorists win,” says British Prime Minister David Cameron.
- 12.35pm: The investigation is ongoing and authorities “fear that people are still at large”, says Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders.
- 1.36pm: Local mayor Yvan Mayeur says “there are around 20 dead with another 106 wounded, 17 of them gravely” at the metro station.
- 1.57pm: A fire service spokesman says the airport attack killed 14 people and left more than 90 wounded, and warns the toll could change.
- 3.20pm: Islamic State claims responsibility for the attacks.
- 3.45pm: Belgian authorities publish surveillance camera images of three suspects in the attack on Brussels airport.
The number of known casualties stands at around 34 dead and more than 200 wounded.
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It really unfolded years ago when they opened their doors to Muslims.. Wherever they go they destroy and they demand . Don’t integrate at all… And they say we need this diversity lol no thanks..RIP to the innocent people murdered on their way to work today…
There has to be consequences for security forces across Europe.
There has to be consequences for the Politicians of Europe, The security forces are doing there jobs as well as they can but they have been completely hamstrung by the political classes.
Another excuse to bomb Syria now. Hundreds of innocent women and children will die because of airstrikes.
What do you suggest be done in Syria? Let ISIS run rampant and commit genocide on a few more groups and blow up more European cities? It’s sad that you see the deaths of 34 people just as something that will be an excuse for something else.
Well it won’t be men anyway cause the cowards all ran away to Europe
I suggest the west stop arming despots and fuelling wars in that region and others.
It’s pretty simple that this is a huge factor. The actions carried out now are short-sighted. Controlling the sell of arms is the only solution.
In one week last year Cameron held an arms fair at which the Saudis and others were present. Next week they’re carrying out air strikes in Syria and turning their back on refugees.
Why bomb syria? Bomb the ghettos of belgium, could even shell them no bother. Its chee. Purr!
There really is no cure for this except to intern all suspects and lean on the whole community of this religion. Sooner or later they will get fed up of it and out bombers because they can’t live their lives in peace like we can’t now!!!
You forgot 570 AD Mohammad born.
What do you mean??
So Pt pat its ok to kill hundreds of innocent people in Syria?
Who killed innocent people in Syria?
Ya the western world where they are all coming for shelter is to blame. A lot of these suicide bombers believe the best & most honorable way to enter paradise is as a martyr. They believe they will be rewarded there & they will eventually see their loved ones there. They have been told that Islam is the last revelation of their god. No other will come after it. They think Muhammed rode off to heaven on a winged horse & they ultimately believe we that are outside islam are all immoral. Now I don’t believe all Muslims are the same but these Islamofascist cannot be reasoned with. They cannot be negotiated with. They believe we should all be converted to Muslims or die. So the blame the west is just an over simplified version of events. Also Muslims kill more Muslims than anyone else. The drawing of the prophet muhammad is another serious incident that had nothing to do with non Muslims. It was Muslims that started the violence & drew some of the offensive pictures themselves to fuel the flames of violence. Dip stick you are a islamofascist apologist. You are part of the problem.
Any resolve we have ?? Anyway Emma guess we have to agree to disagree on this, I just believe the western world are to blame for all of this.
If your country is at war with another country, the last place you seek try to seek refuge is in the country that you are war at.
Its such a silly simplistic weak argument to say that we are responsible for the mess that the middle east is in.
Aptly named ‘dip stick’
Mjhint your a
knob, you know nothing, back to watching sky news with ya.
What a great comment ken hickey, hopefully your children aren’t as stupid
If I were you I’d learn to reply to his comment rather than start a new one before throwing around the stupid insult, just an observation.
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