At least 31 dead in two explosions in Brussels
Posted Mar 22, 2016 03:43:59 AM.
Last Updated Mar 22, 2016 12:35:05 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BRUSSELS – Bombs struck the Brussels airport and one of the city’s metro stations today, killing at least 31 people and wounding at least 187, as another European capital was locked down amid heightened security threats.
The two airport blasts left behind a chaotic scene of splattered blood in the departure lounge as windows were blown out, ceilings collapsed and travellers streamed out of the smokey building.
Crews detonated a third bomb in the airport after at least 20 people were killed and 100 were injured.
The second bomb exploded on a rush-hour subway train near the European Union headquarters.
Belgium raised its terror alert to the highest level, diverting planes and trains and ordering people to stay where they were.
Airports across Europe immediately tightened security.
Sources say at least one and possibly two Kalashnikovs were found in the departure lounge at the airport.
It was not immediately clear whether the firearms were used in the attacks.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said after a crisis meeting called by the French president that — quote — “We are at war.”
European security officials have been warning that the Islamic State group was actively preparing to strike and the arrest Friday of a key suspect in the November attacks in Paris heightened those fears.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels, saying its extremists opened fire in the airport and “several of them” detonated suicide belts.
The posting in the group’s Amaq news agency said another suicide attacker detonated in the metro.
The posting claimed the attack was in response to Belgium’s support of the international coalition arrayed against it.
The Associated Press’ Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to the story
