We reported early this morning that two explosions ripped through Brussels airport during the morning rush hour as hundreds of passengers were trying to check in. Airport authorities said the explosions caused several injuries.
Airport spokeswoman Anke Fransen said: “There were two blasts in the departure hall. First aid team are in place for help.”
Passengers were led onto the tarmac and the crisis center urged people not to come to the airport.
The explosions happened only days after the prime suspect in the Paris attacks Salah Abdeslam was arrested in Brussels and it is speculated that the blasts are an act of retaliation.
As of right now, Police say that at least one person was killed by the explosions that ripped through the departure hall
“One person has died and perhaps there are several more,” said a police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the situation was developing.
Two others have been confirmed as injured. All flights coming into the airport have been diverted and shots have been fired. The Interior minister has also spoken saying that the terror level has gone up to maximum.
Update: Eleven people have now been confirmed dead and several injured in the attack
Witnesses described seeing ‘dismembered bodies everywhere’ after the blasts which are believed to have centred on the American Airlines check-in desk at around 8am
There were reports that shouts in Arabic were heard in the building before the two explosion and shots were fired in the aftermath.
Photographs from inside the arrivals hall showed the floor was covered in fallen roof tiles and dust as bloodied people hobbled out of the airport. Others injured were photographed lying on the floor.
Video also shows terrified passengers running for their lives out of the terminal.
Latest: 34 now dead in the terror attack with a further 140 injured. The US state department tweeted its support of Belgium
We’ll keep updated as reports come in