Dozens killed as Brussels airport, train station rocked by multiple explosions in terror attack
UPDATE: Authorities believe the bomb maker behind the Paris terror massacre may have links to the attack in Brussels.
AUTHORITIES believe the bomb maker behind the Paris terror massacre could be linked to Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels.
Belgian Najim Laachraoiui, 24, is a suspected Islamic State commander who gave authorities the slip when he returned to Syria last year, and is believed to have creatsueded explosive devices used in November massacre that killed 130 people.
With a manhunt underway in Brussels, where terror attacks killed at least 34 people and wounded around 250 on Tuesday morning, the terror suspect has emerged as a key suspect, according to reports.
A wanted notice was issued earlier in the week identifying Laachraoui as linked to the Paris attacks. He returned to attention of police after interviewing top Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam.
Police earlier issued a wanted notice for a suspect seen running away from the Brussels airport following the initial blast.
A CCTV image captured inside the airport at Zaventem shows a man sporting a goatee beard, wearing glasses, a white jacket and a black hat, casually pushing a trolley with a large black bag.
Authorities are on the hunt for the suspected terrorist, believed to still be at large, while two men he was seen with are believed to have carried out the airport attack.
The three men were recorded calmly strolling through the terminal before two explosions in what the federal prosecutor called a “suicide attack”. Belgian authorities have said the attackers carried bombs “in their bags”.
Eyewitness accounts have described horrifying scenes inside the airport and train station hit by three bombs over a two-hour period during rush hour. Footage from inside shows people hiding behind luggage while others ran from the building.
Kalashnikov rifles and a suicide belt were found in the airport, according to security officials. The city remains in lockdown with all flights and trains cancelled. People are also being advised to stay inside as the terror threat is raised to the maximum level 4.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack which comes four days after the arrest of Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam in the Molenbeek district of the city.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called it a “blind, violent and cowardly” attack that marked a “tragic moment in our country’s history.”
Malcolm Turnbull is among world leaders who have pledged support.
The Prime Minister said the Australian people condemned the cowardly attacks and offered our “most resolute solidarity”.
He confirmed there had been no reports of Australians injured in Brussels.
BRUSSELS UNDER ATTACK: WHAT WE KNOW
• Two blasts hit the Zaventem airport shortly after 8am.
• One hour later there was an explosion at Maalbeek metro station.
• The attacks come four days after the arrest of Paris attack suspect Salah Abdelsam.
• The Belgian Prime Minister is asking people to “stay where they are”.
• At least one Briton has died although the exact number and nationality of victims is not confirmed.
• Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says there are no reports of Australians injured so far.
• A police raid has uncovered an explosive device and an Islamic State flag in a Brussels apartment in searches following the blasts.
• Witnesses have described a “war scene” with blood everywhere.
• Police are stepping up security in most major cities.
• Australian exchange student says they are “pretty panicked”.
• Belgian police have released an image of three suspects.
• World leaders have offered support, while Donald Trump said he would “close our borders”.
• Pictures of a crying TinTin are being shared online in tribute, while European landmarks are being lit up in Belgian colours.
POLICE FIND BOMB, IS FLAG IN BRUSSELS APARTMENT
Belgian police have discovered a bomb and an Islamic State flag during a search of a Brussels apartment carried out hours after the deadly attacks.
“The searches that took place in the Schaerbeek (district) found an explosive device containing among other things nails,” the federal prosecutor said in a statement.
“Investigators also discovered chemicals and a flag of the Islamic State,” the statement added.
The terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack and communicated a grim warning of worse to come.
“We promise the crusader alliance against the Islamic State that they will have black days in return for their aggression against the Islamic State,” the jihadist group said in a statement.
“What awaits you will be even harsher, even more bitter, by the permission of Allah.”
The devices have been linked to the Paris attack, with authorities sharing suspicions the same bombmaker may have been involved in both attacks.
.@RepMcCaul on #BrusselsAttacks: “We suspect that the same bomb-maker responsible for the Paris attacks was involved in this attack."
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 22, 2016
‘BOMB MAKER’ IN AUTHORITIES’ SIGHTS
Belgian police have been hunting for 24-year-old Najim Laachraoui since Monday when authorities issued a wanted notice for the man after interviewing Paris terror suspect Salah Abdeslam.
Following interviews with Abdeslam, Belgian prosecutors identified Laachraoui as a new accomplice in last year’s deadly Paris attacks.
Prosecutors said Laachraoui’s DNA had been found at an apartment used by the Paris attackers that he rented under a false name in Auvelais, near the central Belgian city of Namur, and at another suspected hide-out in Schaarbeek.
The former Catholic schoolboy and electromechanics students is believed to have thrown away a promising future to join the ranks of IS, and is believed to have set up at least one home bomb factory in Schaarbeek before the Paris attacks.
It is now feared he may have been the mastermind behind Tuesday’s Brussels bombings.
Similar chemicals and materials to those used in the Paris attacks are believed to have been used by the Brussels bombers, whose devices ripped through a major airport and train station.
KALASHNIKOVS, SUICIDE BELTS REPORTED AT AIRPORT
The chaos began at the airport where it’s believed the attacks were carried out by suicide bombers and explosives inside luggage.
One explosion occurred near the American Airlines check in desk followed quickly by a second that was said to have taken place near a Starbucks at the exit. A US security official who wasn’t authorised to speak publicly said it’s believed there was at least one suitcase bomb.
Airport restaurant worker Samir Derrouich told The Sun the explosions were nearly simultaneous.
“They were both at check in desk. One was close to the Starbucks. It was awful. There was just blood. It was like the apocalypse,” he said.
Brussels woman Pauline Deglume tweeted her godfather had seen “dismembered bodies everywhere”. “The roof collapsed and there is blood everywhere,” she wrote, saying ambulances had arrived 20 minutes later.
Luggage security worker Alphonse Youla, 40, said he heard a man shouting in Arabic before the ceiling of the airport collapsed under the weight of the explosion.
“I helped carry out five dead, with their legs destroyed, as if the bomb came from a piece of luggage,” he said.
Thousands of passengers were caught on camera running from the scene panicked, bleeding and covered in debris. Many were evacuated to a nearby sports hall.
Airport authorities said those with questions about family or friends should call 0032 2 753 73 00.
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said people there should “remain attentive to their surroundings and follow the instructions of local authorities.”
EXPLOSION AT MAELBEEK METRO STATION
Another explosion occurred at Maelbeek metro train station, close to the European Union headquarters where politicians and staff from across Europe travel each day.
Heavy palls of smoke could be seen coming out of the Schumann district with dramatic footage emerging of people inside the tunnels. Roads were closed and all rail networks shutdown.
A witness at Maelbeek station told Belgian broadcaster RTBF the explosion seemed to come from the front of the train.
“The lights went off, there was panic given what happened at Brussels airport.”
“The doors of the train were forced open to get off the train. There was a lot of smoke. We left via Maelbeek station. The glass doors were blown out. The explosion must have been violent.”
This was the scene a short while ago, between the Arts-Lois and Maelbeek metro stations in Brussels. pic.twitter.com/aTZjqsF7Gt
— Evan Lamos (@evanlamos) March 22, 2016
ARRESTS CAPTURED ON CCTV
A police raid following the attack was captured on CCTV, with images showing two suspects on their knees surrounded by men pointing guns at them.
The men are believed to have been arrested outside North railway station, just over one kilometre from the station where people died.
#BREAKING Police are conducting raids throughout #Brussels and arrests are being made https://t.co/d3gr6MWRKx pic.twitter.com/iEOJMmhzjx
— Business Insider UK (@BI_Europe) March 22, 2016
Federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw called all three explosions “terrorist attacks” and said they were probably carried out by a “suicide bomber”.
WORLD LEADERS RALLY
Leaders have united in a show of solidarity after the attack. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said “absolute priority goes to the victims”.
“We realise we face a tragic moment. We have to be calm and show solidarity,” he said.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Europe was at war and had been for the last few months. UK Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted his condolences and said “we will never let these terrorists win” from Downing Street.
The terrorists behind today’s atrocities attack our way of life and they attack us because of who we are. We will never let them win.
— David Cameron (@David_Cameron) March 22, 2016
Australian leader Malcolm Turnbull also took to Twitter, while European Union president Donald Tusk said he was appalled by the bombings in the city where the EU is based.
“These attacks mark another low by the terrorists in the service of hatred and violence.”
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said they were “an attack against democratic Europe.”
“We will never accept that terrorists attack our open societies,” he told news agency TT in a statement, while his Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen denounced the blasts on Twitter as “despicable”.
President Obama was briefed on the situation from Cuba and said the US will do “whatever is necessary” to support their ally. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for countries to unite to fight terror, while Pope Francis has also condemned the attack and offered prayers for victims.
Deeply concerned by the attacks in Brussels. Australians' thoughts, prayers & solidarity are with the people of Belgium.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 22, 2016
"The world must continue to unite against the scourge of terrorism"-@POTUS on the terrorist attack in Belgium. https://t.co/y3qZy4CSy5
— WH National Security (@NSC44) March 22, 2016
AUSTRALIA REACTS
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed there have been no reports of Australians injured in the attacks, and has offered Austraila’s support.
“Australians condemn these cowardly attacks in Brussels, and the people of Brussels have our thoughts and our prayers with them, but above all our most resolute solidarity,” he told the Nine Network.
After meeting with the federal police commissioner, ASIO chief and Attorney General, Mr Turnbull said he had been advised there was no requirement to increase Austraila’s terrorism threat advisory from its current level of probable. He said there was already a high level of security at airports.
“We are in a much stronger position from a security point of view (compared to Brussels),” he said.
Mr Turnbull said though it was “early days”, the government was “not aware of any Australians being involved” in events in Brussels.
Australia’s finance minister, Belgian-born Mathias Cormann, said it was a “black day” for his home country.
“I’ve been to all those places, I walked along those streets many times and it is quite confronting,” he told ABC Radio.
Mr Cormann said though the people of Belgium are in “deep shock”, he had also felt a sense of defiance while speaking with friends and family back home.
“People in Belgium and people across Europe don’t want to let this atrocity get them down. they are very determined to press ahead and essentially enjoy their life,” he said.
JOURNALIST DESCRIBES AIRPORT SCENE
Sky News journalist Alex Rossi was inside the airport at the time and said it was incredibly confused.
“Don’t know about the number of injuries but certainly, the people I am with believe there is a terrorist attack, but again cannot confirm,” he said.
He told Sky News he could feel the building move with dust and smoke surrounding him.
“I went towards where the explosion came from and there were people coming out looking very dazed and shocked.
“The thinking here is that it is some kind of terrorist attack although that hasn’t been verified by any of the authorities here at the airport.”
The Belgian capital has become a hotbed of radicalisation in recent years, with more jihadist per capita than any other country. Of the 11 million citizens, around 500 have left for Syria with many going to Islamic State, Al-Nusra or Al-Qaeda, with up to 40 of them from the Molenbeek area where Salah Abdeslam was found hiding last week.
SECURITY STEPPED UP ACROSS EUROPE
The attack has led other European capitals to set up their security, with some predicting it will change travel across Europe.
Airports in London, Prague, Amsterdam, Vienna, and many others, have increased security following the attacks. British and French Prime Ministers are holding emergency meetings and the UK’s Gatwick Airport, Heathrow and London Underground have also increased security.
Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov tells Russian news agencies that authorities will re-evaluate security at Russian airports, which were subject to a terror attack in 2011.
Germany’s Deutsche Bahn has also cancelled its high speed service to Brussels and leaders from Holland, Spain and Austria have pledged their support for Brussels.
More than 200 flights have been cancelled so far and authorities are warning people against making non-essential calls to avoid burdening the phone network.
TRAIN EVACUATED IN AMSTERDAM
Police in the Netherlands have stopped an international train and are searching passengers at the Hoofddorp station, which has been evacuated.
Authorities have not revealed what has caused them to stop the train but there has been no arrests reported.
Meanwhile hundreds of stranded passengers have gathered at a sports hall in Zaventem. Twenty-two year old butcher Henry Dewespelaere said they are waiting on further instructions on what to do with people.
SOCIAL MEDIA LIGHTS UP
Tributes to the victims have poured in across social media, with thousands sharing pictures of red-haired reporter TinTin crying as a symbol inspired by the Je Suis Charlie moment from January 2015. TinTin’s creator was Belgian cartoonist Herge.
Others shared #JeSuisBruxelles or drew messages of love in the pavement at Place de la Bourse, where a makeshift memorial has popped up.
#Brussel #Zaventem #Kuifje #TinTin what a sad day #BrusselsLockdown pic.twitter.com/GxcT35ICEq
— Christophe Antoine (@christopheanto) March 22, 2016
LANDMARKS LIGHT UP IN SOLIDARITY
Some of Europe’s best-known monuments have been illuminated in Belgium’s national colours in a vibrant show of solidarity after the attacks in Brussels.
As night fell on Tuesday, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in the black, yellow and red colours of the Belgian flag.
Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate and Rome’s Trevi Fountain are among other major landmarks to mark tribute with a show of Belgium’s national colours.
Do you know more? Email victoria.craw@news.com.au and elizabeth.burke@news.com.au
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