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Smoke coming from Brussels airport terminal after two loud explosions, 22 Mar 2016 (Photo: @D_Schwarzer/Twitter)
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Smoke coming from Brussels airport terminal after two loud explosions, 22 Mar 2016 (Photo: @D_Schwarzer/Twitter)
Tuesday, 22 March 2016 - 08:42
Video: Explosions at Brussels airport; Dutch trains affected
Update, 11:20 a.m., 22 March 2016: Most trains between the Netherlands and Belgium were cancelled as of 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Updated information in an NL Times story about train service after the suicide bombings in Brussels.
Two loud explosions were heard at Brussels airport on Tuesday morning. Footage from the scene shows smoke rising from a terminal and people fleeing from the scene. Some reports claim more than a dozen fatalities. Another explosion hit the Maalbeek Metro station around 8:25 a.m., according to RT.
The explosions happened just before 8:00 a.m. The airport is being evacuated. Some reports from the scene speak of 14 fatalities and dozens of injuries, but so far nothing has been confirmed. The Brussels police told Sputnik that the airport's great hall was targeted, but could not confirm the number of victims. "There was an explosion, but we cannot say more." a spokesperson said.
Brussels Airport confirms the explosion on Twitter. "Don't come to the airport area." According to news network RT, all flights from the airport was cancelled.
The airport handles more than 20 thousand departures and landings per month. An estimated 510 thousand passengers based in the Netherlands make use of the airport.
The international train between the Netherlands and Brussels is still running as scheduled, but will be diverted so that it does not stop at the airport, according to NS.
Train delays from the Netherlands to Brussels are possible as the situation develops.
In May last year a power failure at the airport also resulted in all flights being cancelled. Back then it involved 60 cancelled flights and 21 diverted ones.
https://twitter.com/khalidkhan787/status/712181140610650112VIDEO: Panic & chaos in Brussels airport after two explosions https://t.co/aElFMYNuF5 https://t.co/wgSeqVLOO5
— RT (@RT_com) March 22, 2016
FIRST PHOTO: Inside #brusselsairport terminal after two large explosions https://t.co/aElFMYNuF5 #Zaventem pic.twitter.com/YeAHXJECoE
— RT (@RT_com) March 22, 2016
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