Presumed terrorist attacks at Brussels airport leave at least 13 dead, several injured

Two explosions reported at the Brussels airport
(Image credit: Twitter/@ibnlive)

Two explosions rocked the departure area of Belgium's Zaventem airport in Brussels on Tuesday morning. "One person has died and perhaps there are several more," a Belgian police official tells The Associated Press. (UPDATE: Belgian broadcaster VRT says at least 13 people were killed and 35 seriously wounded at the airport, and that shots were fired before the explosions. The Belgian prosecutor on the case told another broadcaster that the explosions were suicide attacks.)

Sky News' Alex Rossi, reporting from the airport, described "two very, very loud explosions" that caused the building to move. "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.... Don't know how the explosion took place, the method if you like. But it certainly seems Brussels airport has been targeted in a terrorist attack."

The explosions come four days after Belgian police arrested Salah Abdeslam, the only known surviving suspected attacker from the deadly Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. Belgian authorities are evacuating the airport and have suspended all flights and rail service to the airport.

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UPDATE (5:45 ET): Authorities in Russia and Britain have ramped up security at some of their airports after the Belgian explosions, and the leaders of Britain and France are convening emergency security meetings. In Brussels, following an explosion in a metro tunnel, Belgian authorities shut down train, bus, and tram service, and requested that everyone stay sheltered in place and avoid making phone calls. "Use texting or social media," CrisisCentre Belgium tweeted.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.