Brussels, the capital city of Belgium is on total lockdown after at least 23 people have been killed and several injured following suicide bombers terrorist attacks. Two explosions rocked the city’s main international airport, and a third in a subway station at the heart of the city.
According to news agencies, 13 people were killed at the airport, and 15 in the subway bombing, while 30 others were wounded. Prime Minister Charles Michel of Belgium said there were “numerous” dead. “We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened,” he said.
At least 13 reportedly died, possibly including the attackers, after two suicide bombs rocked Brussels Zaventem airport just after 8am this morning.
At least 35 are thought to be seriously injured with hundreds of “walking wounded” after the series of blasts.
The France-Belgium border has been closed following the wave of attacks this morning.
Police are describing the horrifying events as terror attacks.
French Police have said they will deploy 1,600 additional police officers at borders and on transport.
Witnesses reported seeing “dismembered bodies everywhere” and heard shots fired and shouting in Arabic before the two airport blasts.
Samir Derrouich, who works at a restaurant in Brussels airport, said: “The two explosions were almost simultaneous. They were both at check in desk. One was close to the Starbucks. It was awful. There was just blood. It was like the apocalypse.”
Fire fighters who entered the blast-hit building are understood to have found a third unexploded device.
As they evacuated people from the airport, terror cops confiscated hand luggage from holidaymakers and they checked for further explosives.
All travel including metro stations, Eurostar, rail stations and flights have been cancelled as the city goes into total lockdown this morning.
Authorities are warning people to stay away, stay indoors and away from crowded areas amid the terror in Brussels.
Belgian MP Georges Dallemagne had just dropped his wife off at the airport when she heard the ‘massive explosions’ and the roof caved in.
He said: “I dropped her off around 7.40am this morning, and she called me to say that there were explosions around 7.58am.
“She ran away immediately, in a state of shock, towards the Sheraton Hotel. Then she returned to pick up her baggage, realising that the danger in this zone had passed.
“It was then that she saw broken windows, victims leaving the airport, the elderly put on stretchers, and the emergency services arriving.
“She saw a part of the ceiling had collapsed. She said the two explosions were around the departure hall.”
Earlier a bomb disposal unit was spotted racing towards the European Union building in the heart of the city.
It is not clear whether the vehicle was responding to a specific threat.
It has been reported one of the explosions centred around the American Airlines desk in the departure lounge in Zaventem airport.
Another blast is thought to have taken place on the road leading up to departures.
All metro stations have been closed in the city following the attacks during this morning’s rush hour.
Eurostar sources say the service is still running normally but it is likely that the whole Brussels public transport network is likely to be closed.
Witnesses described “feeling the shockwaves” of the blasts as the explosions ripped through the airport and said dismembered bodies and blood were strewn across the floor.