Brussels airport explosion: Terror attack?

Two explosions, presumably bombs, occurred at Brussels Airport at the American Airlines area of the departure hall.

According to a twitter feed, police are chasing down a suspect, in order to prevent the detonation of a third bomb.

Also, reports are coming in that there was an attack at a Brussels metro station close to the EU buildings at Maalbeek. The entire metro system in Brussels has been shut down following the explosion.

The Belgian news agency Belga said shots were fired and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the explosions, Reuters reports.

According to unconfirmed reports, firefighters said 11 are dead and 25 have been wounded.

The airport is being evacuated and all flights are cancelled.

Brussels Airport was locked down following initially the confirmation of at least one explosion, as several people reported. It’s unclear if this was a blast or some kind of accident within the building or if it involved transport outside it.

“I can only say I saw one small bomb near the check-in at Brussels Airport. Still shocked,” said Twitter user @soft_guitar60, but the airport staff has confirmed it was two explosions.

As of this writing, there are photos circulating showing the front windows of the terminal building being blown out.

According to Belgian media, rail traffic to Brussels Airport has been suspended. Several people are confirmed dead.

The Belgium government has put the country on the highest alert level in the wake of the explosions, according to a reporter for the Belga news agency. The alert level was issued at 4, the maximum level. Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel says his government is monitoring the situation minute-by-minute.

eTN is following this developing story and will bring you updates as soon as they become available.

#BREAKING: Two loud explosions at #Zaventem airport in #Brussels pic.twitter.com/JFw9RGLjnh

— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) March 22, 2016

video courtesy of @AAhronheim