Blasts rock Brussels. Is it Paris attacks 2.0?
Explosions tore through the departure hall of Brussels Airport on Tuesday morning, killing at least 17 people and injuring dozens of others, Belgian news agency Belga and local sources have said.
According to Belga, shots were fired and Arabic shouts were heard shortly before the explosions.
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.
Social media showed pictures of smoke rising from the departure hall where windows had been shattered by the blasts. Passengers were seen running away down a slipway.
Read more here.
Meanwhile, Brussels Airport authorities have been constantly issuing warnings in the aftermath:
There have been 2 explosions at the airport. Building is being evacuated. Don't come to the airport area.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
Don't come to the airport - airport is being evacuated. Avoid the airport area. Flights have been cancelled.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
All airport operations have been suspended until further notice. Follow the information on our website.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
Passengers that are still located in other area's in the airport are asked to remain calm and wait for further information.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016
As evacuation efforts were underway at the Brussels Airport, another explosion rocked the Belgian capital:
Explosion at Brussels metro station close to EU institutions: Belgian broadcaster RTBF (Reuters)
— IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) March 22, 2016
All metro stations in Brussels are closing: #Brussels transport authority (Reuters)
— IndiaTodayFLASH (@IndiaTodayFLASH) March 22, 2016