The grainy picture shows three men pushing trollies with suitcases past the check-in area at Brussels airport. (AFP photo)
Highlights
- Suicide bombers responsible for twin blasts at Brussels airport
- Search on for third suspect whose bomb failed to go off
- Blasts four days after prime surviving suspect in Paris attacks arrested
A massive manhunt has been launched by Belgium after a series of bombings ripped through Brussels airport and a metro train, killing over 30 people on Tuesday. Belgian authorities released pictures of two of the suspected suicide attackers pushing trollies through the terminal and said they were "actively searching" for a third whose bomb failed to go off.
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story:
"A photograph of three male suspects was taken at Zaventem. Two of them seem to have committed suicide attacks. The third, wearing a light-coloured jacket and a hat, is actively being sought," Federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said.
A government official later said the third suspect was seen running away from the airport building.
A news agency linked to ISIS has claimed that the terrorist group was behind the attacks. "Islamic State fighters carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices on Tuesday..." it said.
A top Belgian official said the two explosions at the airport were a suicide attack. Police have reportedly discovered an unexploded bomb belt at the airport.
A witness said he heard shouts in Arabic shortly before two blasts struck the packed airport departure lounge. Pictures on social media showed smoke rising from the terminal building through shattered windows and passengers fleeing down a slipway, some still hauling their bags.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that so far, there are no reports of any Indians among the casualties. Jet Airways, which has its main hub at Brussels, said two staffers have been injured. The airline said it is making arrangements to move transiting passengers out of the airport.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans to visit Brussels on the 30th for a European Union-India summit remain unchanged, the government said.
All public transport in Brussels was shut down; The Tihange nuclear power plant was evacuated.
The blasts at the airport and metro station occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.
Security has been tightened at all European airports. The border between France and Belgium has been sealed. The Brussels airport is closed till 6 am tomorrow, local time.
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