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Brussel Attacks:Latest Updates

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Security is being stepped up at airports around Asia, with South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and India all saying they are deploying additional resources at major hubs.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has cited concerns over Europe's open-borders Schengen passport-free zone, and lax security.
Controls were tightened in the wake of last November's Paris attacks but Mr Turnbull was quoted by Reuters as saying "regrettably they allowed things to slip".
"That weakness in European security is not unrelated to the problems they've been having in recent times," he added.

Wanted suspect named as Najim Laachraoui

The Brussels airport suspect still at large has been named as Najim Laachraoui, who was already being sought by police after he was linked to the Paris attacks in November, Reuters reports Belgian newspaper DH as saying.
On Monday, prosecutors said his DNA was found in houses used by the Paris attackers last year. He was also said to have travelled to Hungary in September with Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam.
EPA

Metro bag checks

Brussels' Metro network has partially reopened and soldiers have been carrying out security checks as people enter stations.
Commuters are being asked to show the contents of their bags.
PA

Belgium PM cancels China trip

Belgium's prime minister Charles Michel has cancelled a scheduled trip to China following the attacks, Reuters reports China's foreign ministry as saying.

'Link' to Paris attacks suspect

Police have named the brothers they say were the airport suicide bombers as Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui.
They say Khalid, under a false name, rented the flat in the Forest borough of the Belgian capital where police killed a gunman in a raid last week, Belgium public broadcaster RTBF said. Investigators, who raided the flat, found an Islamic State flag, an assault rifle, detonators and a fingerprint of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, who was arrested three days later.
Both brothers have criminal records, but have not been linked by the police to terrorism until now, RTBF said.
AP
The two men blamed for carrying out the attack have been named as Khalid and Brahim El Bakraoui

Belgium on high alert

AFP
Security throughout Belgium has been significantly tightened in the aftermath of the attacks as anti-terror police seek those linked to them. The airport at Brussels remains shut and the authorities have ordered a city-wide lock down, deploying about 500 soldiers onto Brussels' largely empty streets to bolster police checkpoints. Here, a soldier stands guard near the airport in Zaventem.

BreakingBombers 'brothers' known to police

The airport suicide bombers were brothers who were known to police, Reuters quotes Belgian public broadcaster RTBF as saying.

Casualty figures

The death toll overnight has stayed at 34, although officials haven't been specific about how many people died at either location. At least 20 were killed at the Maelbeek metro station and about 11 at the airport, officials have said. Scores of others were injured.

Brussels pays tribute to victims

AFP
A candlelit vigil was held at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels overnight

Search for suspect continues

To recap: Belgian police are still searching for a suspect spotted on CCTV at Zaventem airport just before the explosions there. It is thought that two men seen alongside him blew themselves up but his explosives failed to detonate.
AFP
As a hunt for a suspect is under way, here are the latest developments from Belgium:
  • Police are hunting for a man in a hat who was caught on CCTV pushing a laden luggage trolley at Zaventem airport before a twin attack there.
  • An explosive device containing nails, chemical products and a flag of the so-called Islamic State were found during raids in Brussels.
  • Police operations were still under way in the Schaerbeek area of Brussels well into the night.
  • The threat level across Belgium has been raised to maximum, and troops have been deployed in Brussels.
  • Security has also been beefed up in many other European cities.
  • More than 30 people are believed to have been killed in the attacks.
  • Here is our comprehensive round-up of all the day's events.
  • Witnesses of the attacks share their experiences.
  • And here are some of the most striking pictures of the day.

Paris and Brussels: What are the differences in public reaction?

Katya Adler
Europe Editor
PA
You have that sense of anger and fear and sadness like you did in Paris after the attacks there. But what is missing here is a real absence of shock.
This city has been in a state of public jumpiness and high security alert since those Paris attacks, and the massive manhunt here for key suspects linked to them.
In November, the city was in complete lockdown for days, no metro, all schools closed. But that is not to say there is a sense of inevitability about the bombings here.
There is a sense of public anger to a certain extent, a feeling that their government and the security services should have done more to keep them safe and should do more now, because the Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said there are more attacks to come.
So it is a case of when, not if.

  • Cameron to chair security meeting on Wednesday

UK Prime Minister David Cameron will chair a meeting of the government's Cobra emergency committee on Wednesday morning, Downing Street said.
The same group had a meeting on Tuesday to determine the UK's response to the Brussels attacks.

Taxi driver led police to Schaerbeek, reports say

EPA
Belgian newspaper HLN reports the police were led to Schaerbeek by the taxi driver who dropped the suspected bombers off at the airport.
He recalled that they would not let him help them with their luggage, and told police where he had picked them up from.

Operation in Schaerbeek ongoing
The BBC's Anna Holligan says while the helicopters have gone, there is still a lot of activity in the Brussels area.
Two cars carrying police in balaclavas, possibly special forces, have been seen as well as at least two Red Cross vehicles.
She says she has also seen unverified footage from a resident which appeared to show two people being arrested.
In the meantime, people are still waiting to return to their homes.

World leaders react to Brussels attacks

Reuters
Memorial for victims at Place de la Republique in Paris
Here is how some world leaders have reacted:
  • US President Barack Obama: "We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism... We can and we will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world."
  • UK Prime Minister David Cameron: "These are appalling and savage terrorist attacks... These were attacks in Belgium. They could just as well be attacks in Britain or in France or Germany, or elsewhere in Europe and we need to stand together against these appalling terrorists and make sure they can never win."
  • German Chancellor Angela Merkel: "We will cooperate in every way with his government and with the Belgian security forces to find, arrest and punish those responsible for today's crimes... The horror is as limitless as the determination to overcome terrorism."
  • UN Secretary General Ban ki Moon, through spokesman: "The despicable attacks today struck at the heart of Belgium and the centre of the European Union. The secretary-general hopes those responsible will be swiftly brought to justice. He is confident that Belgium's and Europe's commitment to human rights, democracy and peaceful coexistence will continue to be the true and lasting response to the hatred and violence of which they became a victim today."

Candles and messages of condolence

Here are other pictures of the makeshift memorial which has popped up in the Place de la Bourse, Brussels.
You can see some other pictures of the day here.

AFP

Belgian PM visits makeshift memorial

AFP
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel joined crowds gathered at the Place de la Bourse in Brussels, where a makeshift memorial has popped up.
He is pictured here on the right embracing European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

Minute's silence to be held on Wednesday

BBC Monitoring
The Brussels authorities have announced that a minute of silence for the victims of the attacks will be held at midday local time (11:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the website of the Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reports.

Belgian interior minister: Never imagined something on this scale

AP
Belgium's interior minister said authorities knew that some kind of extremist act was being prepared in Europe but they were surprised by the scale of the attacks in Brussels.
Interior Minister Jan Jambon said: "It was always possible that more attacks could happen but we never could have imagined something of this scale".

Part of Denver airport evacuated as officials investigate possible threat

Officials at Denver International Airport have evacuated a section of its main terminal as they investigate a possible security threat.
Flights, though, have continued, they say.
Denver Int'l Airport
DENAirport
DPD is evacuating a section of the main terminal on the west side between doors 600 and 610 to investigate a possible security threat
Denver Int'l Airport
DENAirport
No vehicle traffic is being allowed on the west side of the terminal. East side remains open to passengers.

No official death toll, Belgian health ministry says

AFP
Belgian Health Ministry tells the BBC there are approximately 30 dead and about 250 injured.
A spokeswoman said it was difficult to ascertain how many were wounded as some made their own way from the attacks at the metro station and airport.
She said the ministry was very happy with the emergency services' response, and they were well prepared as their capacity to deal with such situations had been evaluated in the wake of last year's Paris attacks.
When the first attack happened at the airport, Brussels' emergency services attended, while emergency services from neighbouring regions were put on standby and parked up outside city, she added.
The worst injured victims at Zaventem Airport were taken to the nearest hospital, and all others were taken to hospitals in neighbouring regions, taking into account possibility of a second attack.
When the second attack occurred at Maelbeek metro station, the reinforcements waiting outside Brussels attended as planned, she said.

Suspected attackers' bombs were in their bags, mayor says

AFP
The three suspected attackers who struck Zaventem airport had their bombs in their luggage, the local mayor told AFP news agency.
"They came in a taxi with their suitcases, their bombs were in their bags," Zaventem mayor Francis Vermeiren was quoted as saying.
"They put their suitcases on trolleys, the first two bombs exploded. The third also put his on a trolley but he must have panicked, it did not explode."

Solidarity shown in lights

In addition to France's Eiffel Tower, other countries have shown solidarity with Belgium by lighting up their buildings in the colours of the Belgian flag.
We have more pictures of the day's events here.

Brussels airport to remain shut on Wednesday

Brussels airport officials confirm that the city's airport will remain shut on Wednesday and could re-open on Thursday - but only after an expert evaluation.

'No unofficial travel to Brussels' - US military

US European Command is prohibiting unofficial travel to Brussels for military personnel, and those on official travel will need approval.
"We will assist Belgium in any way our military can - we strongly condemn these attacks and will continue to stand by our Nato allies and partners to defeat these terrorists who threaten our freedoms and our way of life," General Philip Breedlove, the Nato supreme allied commander and head of US European Command.
Earlier, US European Command said it was aware of one US service member and his family who were caught up in the attacks. No other details were given.

Hundreds gather in tribute to victims

The BBC's Gavin Lee tweets from Brussels:

'No credible threat of plot' - US Homeland security

Head of US Homeland security Jeh Johnson said the US had no intelligence that indicated there was a plot to carry out an attack similar to the one in Brussels
"At present, we have no specific, credible threat of any plot to conduct similar attacks here in the United States," Mr Johnson said in a statement.
He added that security was being ramped up at major airports, and rail and transit stations.

'We're going to go after them' - President Obama

President Barack Obama said the US-led coalition would continue "pounding" Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria following the attacks in Brussels.
"We're going to go after them," the US president told ESPN during his visit to Cuba.
IS has claimed responsibility for the attacks in the Belgian capital.
Reuters
US President Barack Obama observes a minute's silence for the victims of the Brussels attacks prior to a baseball game in Havana

Searches continue in Brussels' Schaerbeek area

The BBC's Anna Holligan tweets:

What Brussels attacks could mean for travellers

Security officials say such attacks - like those in Paris last year and in London in 2005 - are almost impossible to prevent.
The BBC's transport correspondent Richard Westcott looks at what the Brussels attacks could mean for travellers.
Source:bbc
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About Author Mohamed Abu 'l-Gharaniq

when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries.

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