BREAKING NEWS, Foreign
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AT least 31 people have been killed and many seriously injured in attacks at Brussels international airport and a city metro station.
Officials said twin blasts hit Zaventem airport at 07:00 GMT, killing 11 and injuring 81.
Another explosion struck Maelbeek metro station an hour later, killing another 20 persons, Yvan Mayeur, mayor of Brussels, said.
Belgium has now raised its terrorism threat to its highest level.
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels, capital city of Belgium.
Charles Michel, prime minister, has described the latest attacks “blind, violent and cowardly”, adding: “This is a day of tragedy, a black day… I would like to call on everyone to show calmness and solidarity”.
Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, said the attacks “mark another low by the terrorists in the service of hatred and violence.”
The Belgian prosecutor said “probably a suicide bomber” was involved.
The government, has thus, closed the airport and the entire public transport system in Brussels.
Belga, the state-owned news agency reports said that shots were fired and shouts in Arabic were heard before the two explosions.
Public broadcaster VRT said an assault rifle was found next to a dead attacker. Private broadcaster VTM added that an unexploded bomb belt had been found.
— Mar 22, 2016 @ 16:20 GMT
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