Dozens reported dead as explosions rock Brussels airport, metro station


As many as 34 people are dead after three terrorist bombings rocked major transportation hubs in Belgium. Fourteen were killed after two bombs targeted the departure area of Belgium's Zaventem airport in Brussels early Tuesday; a third bomb was later deactivated at the airport by officials. One of the explosions at Zaventem is believed to have been the work of a suicide bomber.
The Brussels mayor reports that 20 were killed and 106 wounded — 17 severely — when, an hour later, an explosion hit a metro station near the EU buildings in central Brussels.
The explosions come days after Belgian police arrested Salah Abdeslam, the only known surviving suspected attacker from the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
This is a breaking story that will be updated as more details become available. This post has been updated throughout.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Jonathan Powell: who is the man behind Keir Starmer's foreign policy?
Today's Big Question Prime minister's national security adviser is a 'world-class operator'
-
Summer sipping: the best fruit beers
The Week Recommends Check out these delightfully refreshing sweet and sour brews
-
How Putin misunderstood his past victories
In Depth Though Vladimir Putin has led Russia to a number of grisly military triumphs, they may have misled him when planning the invasion of Ukraine
-
Australian woman found guilty of mushroom murders
speed read Erin Patterson murdered three of her ex-husband's relatives by serving them toxic death cap mushrooms
-
Combs convicted on 2 of 5 charges, denied bail
Speed Read Sean 'Diddy' Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack