STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.
Two explosions ripped through the departures hall of Brussels airport this morning. According to first reports the blasts occured in the departures hall near the American Airlines checkin counter. There are reports of massive damage with at least 35 people wounded and 21 dead. An additional blast has been reported at the Maalbeek metro station in central Brussels, near the European Union buildings. At least one suicide bomber was reported to be involved in the airport attack.
Updates:
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2016-03-22T13:14:26Z 2016-03-22T13:14:26Z Continuing coverage of the aftermath here. -
2016-03-22T12:14:12Z 2016-03-22T12:14:12Z Obama briefed on Brussels attacks https://t.co/2bBkCDf3qf pic.twitter.com/Qvfk6DJAVl
— POLITICO Europe (@POLITICOEurope) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T12:07:14Z 2016-03-22T12:07:14Z Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was. Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T11:50:21Z 2016-03-22T11:50:21Z 'Threat' reported near VUB university campus in Etterbeek (Brussels suburb). Soldiers urging everyone to stay or get inside. -
2016-03-22T11:42:06Z 2016-03-22T11:42:06Z The French cartoonist @plantu about #brusselsattack pic.twitter.com/9CReZEzYZC
— Euranet Plus (@EuranetPlus) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T11:31:00Z 2016-03-22T11:31:00Z Maalbeek metro attack casualty figures: 11 dead, 55 wounded. -
2016-03-22T11:29:48Z 2016-03-22T11:29:48Z Belgian social media users using #ikwilhelpen ("I want to help") hashtag to coordinate ride sharing, offers of shelter for people stranded by Brussels terror attacks. -
2016-03-22T11:28:34Z 2016-03-22T11:28:34Z Bomb scare about suspicious package at gate of Saleh Abdeslam's prison, all clear given. -
2016-03-22T11:09:03Z 2016-03-22T11:09:03Z Latest Brussels airport casualty figures: 11 dead, 81 wounded -
2016-03-22T10:58:34Z 2016-03-22T10:58:34Z Kurdish news channel Rudaw says ISIS claimed responsability for the attacks. -
2016-03-22T10:56:44Z 2016-03-22T10:56:44Z Two men with 'suspicious bag' arrested near Brussels North train station:Twee mannen met verdachte sporttas opgepakt aan Noordstation https://t.co/sloUKye0DD pic.twitter.com/g7KTXQREAM
— newsmonkey (@Newsmonkey_BE) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T10:40:20Z 2016-03-22T10:40:20Z Twitter report: two people arrested near south station in Brussels:Ze hebben hier net twee mensen gearresteerd. Bij ons gebouw. Overkant zuidstation #brussel
— Timo (@TimoBrackx) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T10:39:15Z 2016-03-22T10:39:15Z Sint Pieters hospital in #Brussels is asking for blood donations!
— Annabell (@Annabellvdb) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T10:38:37Z 2016-03-22T10:38:37Z Brussels public transit official: 15 dead in attack on Maalbeek metro -
2016-03-22T10:30:16Z 2016-03-22T10:30:16Z Taxi's in Brussels reportedly offering free rides because public transit is shut down. -
2016-03-22T10:29:32Z 2016-03-22T10:29:32Z Confirmation: blast was controlled detonation by explosives disposal unit. -
2016-03-22T10:26:24Z 2016-03-22T10:26:24Z New blast heard near Wetstraat street in Brussels. Could be controlled detonation of suspect package. -
2016-03-22T10:20:58Z 2016-03-22T10:20:58Z New blast heard:We horen nu in nieuwe ontploffing. Vlakbij
— Lut De Bisschop (@lutdebisschop) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T10:16:37Z 2016-03-22T10:16:37Z Facebook has activated 'Safety Check' feature in Brussels region. Let your friends know you are OK. -
2016-03-22T10:09:46Z 2016-03-22T10:09:46Z Border between France and Belgium reportedly being closed. -
2016-03-22T10:08:46Z 2016-03-22T10:08:46Z Reports on Twitter of a suspect package on a train in Reims, France. Station evacuated. -
2016-03-22T10:00:04Z 2016-03-22T10:00:04Z Notre metro bien connu... Image choquante de #maelbeek ... pic.twitter.com/XhgB71RM0P
— alxdm (@alxdm) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:55:18Z 2016-03-22T09:55:18Z Hoax Alert: CCTV video of #Brussels airport attack is from 2011 Moscow airport attack: https://t.co/7leChUY6MM pic.twitter.com/OlLDB0qayn
— Lead Stories (@LeadStoriesCom) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:52:36Z 2016-03-22T09:52:36Z Fire brigade now reporting 21 dead. -
2016-03-22T09:45:14Z 2016-03-22T09:45:14Z Telco company Telenet is opening access to all its wifi hotspots in Brussels. -
2016-03-22T09:44:20Z 2016-03-22T09:44:20Z Antwerp central station also on lockdown, according to Belgian state media. All stations in Brussels closed too. -
2016-03-22T09:40:27Z 2016-03-22T09:40:27Z Main Belgian phone company asks people to text instead of calling:Door de situatie in Brussel wordt ons netwerk druk gebruikt. SMS ipv te bellen. Onze gedachten gaan uit naar de slachtoffers #prayforbelgium
— Proximus (@proximus) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:35:56Z 2016-03-22T09:35:56Z LIVE op #Periscope: #Brussels #Maelbeek #Attacks https://t.co/gz3IAKyJzw
— Riadh Bahri (@Riadh_B) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:32:22Z 2016-03-22T09:32:22Z Authorities ask people not to use mobile phones for calling friends and relatives, use social media instead. -
2016-03-22T09:31:53Z 2016-03-22T09:31:53Z Politie gaat deel van de Wetstraat afschermen met rasters. pic.twitter.com/a5Vv5C66Z6
— Maarten Goethals (@maartengoethals) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:15:53Z 2016-03-22T09:15:53Z All of Brussels is on lockdown, main Wetstraat street evacuated. -
2016-03-22T09:14:29Z 2016-03-22T09:14:29Z Hey Terrorists... #Brussels Pisses On You! pic.twitter.com/yKUYCj4qHJ
— Maarten Schenk (@mschenk) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T09:08:38Z 2016-03-22T09:08:38Z Public transport + main tunnels on inner ring road shut down in Brussels. -
2016-03-22T09:00:45Z 2016-03-22T09:00:45Z Brussels public transport company confirms *one* attack on Maalbeel metro station:MIVB bevestigt tot nu toe 1 aanslag: Maalbeek. Gewestelijk rampenplan is afgekondigd
— Nina Verhaeghe (@NinaVerhaeghe) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:58:26Z 2016-03-22T08:58:26Z Video being widely circulated as showing explosion at Brussels airport is from Moscow in 2011 https://t.co/qmUC0nEx2o #debunk via @Kevind04
— Eoghan mac Suibhne (@buileshuibhne) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:57:49Z 2016-03-22T08:57:49Z UPDATE PHOTO Main hall of Brussels airport after the blast. live coverage: https://t.co/xejEmy28Qm pic.twitter.com/819IjV5rSM
— AIRLIVE (@airlivenet) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:57:16Z 2016-03-22T08:57:16Z Evacuation du metro juste avant Maelbeek #brussels traumatisant pic.twitter.com/5MmRIelAC2
— Quentin G. (@zhuyida) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:52:59Z 2016-03-22T08:52:59Z Report on Twitter: police appear to chase man on Wetstraat street.Politie loopt schijnbaar achter man in de wetstraat. Mensen schreeuwen, mensen staan met de tranen in ogen, mensen zoeken info op Twitter.
— Maarten Goethals (@maartengoethals) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:51:20Z 2016-03-22T08:51:20Z Belgian state TV: suspicious suitcases at 'Arts-Loi' metro station -
2016-03-22T08:50:17Z 2016-03-22T08:50:17Z Belgian broadcaster RTBF cites hospital source saying up to 10 dead, 30 wounded after Brussels explosions
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:46:49Z 2016-03-22T08:46:49Z Wetstraat in Brussels where Maalbeek station is located is main avenue linking important political buildings: EU parliament, party headquarters, Belgian parliament building, residence of Prime Minister...View of #Maelbeek #Brussels pic.twitter.com/UwxI0q3uSB
— Danny Kemp (@dannyctkemp) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:45:05Z 2016-03-22T08:45:05Z Confirmation from Belgian state media: at least one suicide attacker at Brussels airport -
2016-03-22T08:41:44Z 2016-03-22T08:41:44Z Fire department reports: explosions in four(!) metro stations:Brandweer zegt dat er explosies geweest zijn in vier verschillende metrostations, meldt NBC. #Zaventem
— Dominique Soenens (@Dsoenens) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:40:29Z 2016-03-22T08:40:29Z Wounded of Maalbeel metro attack are being taken in at political party CD&V headquarters building nearby. -
2016-03-22T08:37:05Z 2016-03-22T08:37:05Z Main departure hall in Brussels airport is public, crowded part of the building. People line up to use checkin counters. Crowds haven't been through security check yet there. -
2016-03-22T08:34:33Z 2016-03-22T08:34:33Z We felt a blast of air and my ears popped shortly after leaving Schuman station. The Metro stopped immediately.
— Evan Lamos (@evanlamos) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:33:50Z 2016-03-22T08:33:50Z Just arrived at Schuman station after walking on the tracks. pic.twitter.com/4xc0YCQmIv
— Evan Lamos (@evanlamos) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:31:01Z 2016-03-22T08:31:01Z BREAKING Brussels metro system has been closed
— Tony Connelly (@tconnellyRTE) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:28:58Z 2016-03-22T08:28:58Z Clear image of smoke and victims at Metro station Maalbeek #Brussels pic.twitter.com/Djad6pEEez
— Ties Wijntjes (@TiesW_) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:25:54Z 2016-03-22T08:25:54Z Maalbeek and Schuman metro stations are main stations servicing European Union offices and buildings. -
2016-03-22T08:23:36Z 2016-03-22T08:23:36Z Reports on Belgian state TV: Schuman metro station, smoke reported -
2016-03-22T08:22:40Z 2016-03-22T08:22:40Z Maalbeek metro station and CD&V party headquarters (christian democrat party) being evacuated. -
2016-03-22T08:20:39Z 2016-03-22T08:20:39Z Explosion reported in Maalbeek metro station in central Brussels... -
2016-03-22T08:19:39Z 2016-03-22T08:19:39Z Explosión metro maalbeek pic.twitter.com/9KIEhLMOin
— Serge Massart (@massart_serge) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:18:55Z 2016-03-22T08:18:55Z Pic of metro being evacuated (unconfirmed):— Orry Van de Wauwer (@orry_vdw) March 22, 2016
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2016-03-22T08:17:13Z 2016-03-22T08:17:13Z Report: "vibrations" under office building in Wetstraat (central Brussels), bloodied people evacuated from metro...Trillingen onder kantoor Wetstraat 89, bebloede mensen komen uit #metro #aanslag
— Orry Van de Wauwer (@orry_vdw) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:15:42Z 2016-03-22T08:15:42Z Crisis centre opened:#brusselsairport pic.twitter.com/zOn0ISLwEM
— Tim Van Marck (@timmetje23) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:15:13Z 2016-03-22T08:15:13Z #brusselsairport pic.twitter.com/zOn0ISLwEM
— Tim Van Marck (@timmetje23) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:14:23Z 2016-03-22T08:14:23Z Bombs exploded at American Airlines and SN Brussels Airlines counters at Brussels airport, third bomb found that didn't explode. -
2016-03-22T08:12:20Z 2016-03-22T08:12:20Z State media TV crews being asked to leave the security perimeter. -
2016-03-22T08:11:08Z 2016-03-22T08:11:08Z Terror threat level elevated to '4' (highest level) in Belgium -
2016-03-22T08:07:39Z 2016-03-22T08:07:39Z Heavily armed soldiers reported on location by reporter on Belgian state TV. -
2016-03-22T08:05:58Z 2016-03-22T08:05:58Z Man. Man. #sprakeloos https://t.co/xSXT8qErYw pic.twitter.com/QNEcFlsIXK
— Niel Staes (@NielStaes) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T08:02:50Z 2016-03-22T08:02:50Z Fire brigade reports more explosives were found. -
2016-03-22T08:00:53Z 2016-03-22T08:00:53Z Witness reports about shooting and Arabic shouting come from Belga, Belgian press agency. -
2016-03-22T07:59:08Z 2016-03-22T07:59:08Z Unconfirmed reports: first shots rang out, then something was yelled in Arabic before explosions.BREAKING: In de vertrekhal werd eerst geschoten, dan iets in het Arabisch geroepen. Pas daarna waren er twee explosies (getuigen) #Belga
— Hans Vandendriessche (@HansVDD) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:57:19Z 2016-03-22T07:57:19Z Don't come to the airport - airport is being evacuated. Avoid the airport area. Flights have been cancelled.
— Brussels Airport (@BrusselsAirport) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:56:41Z 2016-03-22T07:56:41Z Scenes of devastation inside the departures hall:Two explosions heard at #BrusselsAirport https://t.co/77wugeBmmI pic.twitter.com/k52KKCpxCP
— Trendolizer (@Trendolizer) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:53:26Z 2016-03-22T07:53:26Z People running for their lives:Mensen rennen voor hun leven na aanslagen op #brusselsairportpic.twitter.com/8awT3yUoBV
— NieuwsBlog | Brk (@nbbrk) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:52:31Z 2016-03-22T07:52:31Z Cellphone networks around the airport are completely overloaded -
2016-03-22T07:49:50Z 2016-03-22T07:49:50Z Witness films evacuation: -
2016-03-22T07:47:59Z 2016-03-22T07:47:59Z Airplanes can't land in #brussels all traffic is diverted pic.twitter.com/Tkk5siu6XH
— Henk van Ess (@henkvaness) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:45:48Z 2016-03-22T07:45:48Z Zaventem now. #belgium #brusselsattack #BrusselsAirport #breaking pic.twitter.com/PAppJb7PJB
— Giorgi Tabagari (@Tabagari) March 22, 2016 -
2016-03-22T07:39:55Z 2016-03-22T07:39:55Z Terminal windows blown out from force of explosion and smoke rising into the sky https://t.co/pzkw0IWbPT pic.twitter.com/qtxDLArn60
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 22, 2016
