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#BrusselsAttacks: Many killed in terrorist attacks at Brussels airport and Metro station

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brussels airportTwo large explosions occurred at Brussels National Airport in Zaventem on Tuesday 22 March. The airport was evacuated and all flights were suspended -  Belgium's Het Laatste Nieuws reported that more bombs had been found. In addition, Brussels' Maalbeek Metro station was also hit by an explosion.

Scores of people remain in intensive care following Tuesday's suicide bomb attacks in Brussels that left 31 people dead, Belgium's health minister said.

Maggie de Block said that of about 300 wounded people, 61 were still in a critical condition, and suggested that the death toll could rise further.

Brussels' entire transport system was closed and Belgium has raised its terror threat to its highest level. Zaventem airport has been closed to flights.

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Brussels airport blasts - latest updates

The explosions happened four days after the Belgian police caught one of the most wanted alleged terrorists in Europe - Salah Abdeslam, who was allegedly involved in the Paris attacks in November 2015. Abdeslam was on the run for four months and is currently imprisoned in Bruges, Belgium.

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According to sources, the two explosions happened within seconds, the first one at the departure terminal and the second at the arrivals terminal. The last explosion was more powerful and destroyed many windows in the airport. There were also reports of gunfire and shouting in Arabic being heard.

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Belgian police closed the airport area and the road to the airport, and rail travel to Zaventem is also suspended. All flights scheduled to arrive at Brussels airport have been diverted to Liège.

The Belgian federal prosecutor Fredere Van Leeuw has confirmed that the three explosions were terror attacks. The anti-terror section of the federal prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

Brussels police have issued a wanted notice for a man seen pushing a luggage trolley through the airport.

He was pictured in CCTV footage with two other suspects who are believed to have died in the blasts.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it was behind the attacks in a statement issued on the IS-linked Amaq agency.

Belgium has raised its terrorism alert to its highest level. Three days of national mourning have been declared.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called the Brussels attacks "blind, violent and cowardly", saying they were a "tragic moment in our country's history. I would like to call on everyone to show calmness and solidarity."

 

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