[Closed] Brussels airport attack.

Sky news have a guy reporting live from within the terminal, explosions at American Airlines check-in, airport being evacuated and people being asked to leave luggage behind - presumably because they are concerned about another device in a bag being taken out to where all the people are being moved to.

BBC reporting several deceased and numerous injuries. Grim.

as above

Not good at all.

Grim indeed

MCJnr is heading to Belgium in the summer on a music tour. Stupid of me I know, but these incidents are beginning to make me nervous,..

Another explosion at metro.

Hope this isn't the beginning of a campaign over Easter.

Time to abolish the Schengen zone.

Brussels really is a hot bed for these ****ers. Without meaning to be dim, why is that so?

Turkey yesterday, Belgium today.

'up to' 10 dead now being reported, also 3 bombs, 2 in the airport and 1 in the metro.

Good to see Telegraph journalists focusing on the important story:

[i]@allisonpearson Brussels, de facto capital of the EU, is also the jihadist capital of Europe. And the Remainers dare to say we're safer in the EU! #Brexit 7:45 AM - 22 Mar 2016[/i]

sad little shit who can't see anything beyond their own petty political concerns.

Guardian reporting gunshots...not sure I feel like travelling home via Kings Cross this Easter.

🙁

Who is it..? 🙄

I'm at the airport now. All evacuated, standing in a car park.

Just spent a fortnight in Sierra Leone. Should have stayed there.

Multiple metro stations under attack according to Brussels Fire Service.

Jeeesus can't imagine being in something like that. Stw's own eye witness reporter. Stay safe!

We're being held in a secure area. Explosion wasn't in the terminal I was in. We didn't know what had happened until they started moving us out. Lots of staff in tears. Guessing they've lost workmates.

I'd say stay safe too, but I've no idea how to achieve it 🙁

Stay safe Kja, passed through that airport a few months ago.

Keep us posted, but keep your head down buddy!

Clearly a false flag to give the FBI some leverage should they not be able to hack iPhones after all.

Sorry - crass joke I know under the circumstances but its bound to be given as a genuine reason by someone.

Seriously - horrible stuff and not entirely sure what the world can do about it at the moment. If nasty people want to cause harm they will...

Media are all over anyone tweeting about this.

Every wish to stay safe is dripping with sincerity...

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It's nuts. Just been training Sierra Leone army chaplains. They have both Imams and Christian ministers working side by side. I led a joint Christian/Muslim service two days ago. They wouldn't believe me when I told them about Islamic extremism in Europe.

bwfc4eva868 - Member
Time to abolish the Schengen zone

It's a difficult time but one where standing together is the best thing to do.

[i]Time to abolish the Schengen zone[/i]

because we know the perpetrators weren't Belgian nationals?

I work in Zaventem & am a very frequent traveler through this airport. My colleagues & I use it like a bus station due to our work.
So far not heard anything 'negative' news about my colleagues & have my fingers crossed.

Brussels is a very mixed up city with some real problem zones. The general political confusion in Belgium (due to the governmental complexity) probably helps these evil people stay off the radar or perhaps even contributes to their radicalization.

As someone whose spent 20 years flying all over for work and who watched 9 11 in an airport I've always wondered why the terminals haven't been targeted more often. It really would only need a couple of attacks and threats to close down European airspace. Anyone can walk into any terminal anywhere with a trolley full of suitcases totally unchechecked. I can only think of Istanbul that I've flown through where suitcases for the hold are x-rayed while still in the possession of the owner. This could have a bigger effect on airport security than 9 11 because it's so much harder to protect a building.
And all the security in the world can't defend against a twisted distorted corruption of a belief system.

Oh dear, did they get those two lads the other day? Was this them thinking eff it we'll go down shooting?

I've always wondered why the terminals haven't been targeted more often

I think the opposite. Airports have the highest security, armed guards and metal detectors.

A railway station or shopping centre have much less and must be a softer target.

Not being flippant so bear with me, but what about Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix? for the next few weekends they're looking at people travelling to Belgium from across northern Europe so using transport hubs, then thousands of people lining the roads and congregating in public spaces. How on earth do you try police that? Airports and and metros are difficult enough but at least they are easily bounded/defined spaces.

And there in ^^ they achieve what they're after. Generating a genuine fear of going out and doing normal things. People re considering holidays days out just in case. Really sad times.

[quote=ScottChegg ]I've always wondered why the terminals haven't been targeted more often
I think the opposite. Airports have the highest security, armed guards and metal detectors.
A railway station or shopping centre have much less and must be a softer target.

Not much landside more security airside. This happened landside

I think the opposite. Airports have the highest security, armed guards and metal detectors.

Never said they weren't Belgian nationals or foreign. The Schengen zone means Dave can happily drive from Madrid murder someone in Paris and drive back to Madrid without being checked.

It's a stupid idea.

Jose de Been on Twitter is the one to follow re cycling aspect..apparently all public events will be canx if security remains at level 4 as it currently is.

Pre Schengen I've been through 4 or 5 eu countries in a day without a single check. It's nearly impossible to police the eu borders with out walls and massive fences.

I can only think of Istanbul that I've flown through where suitcases for the hold are x-rayed while still in the possession of the owner.

I think that's true of all public spaces though mikewsmith?

Whilst airports are 'spectacular' from a terror point of view any mass transit hub is a similar structure/mode of entry and then there's shopping centres, outside sports and music events etc.

I don't know what the solution is but moving security from post checkin to the door of an airport doesn't sound like the right one.

I can only think of Istanbul that I've flown through where suitcases for the hold are x-rayed while still in the possession of the owner.

I had this at Dubai about 10 years ago. The Land Rover shock absorber did cause some concern.

I like the commitment of our man on the spot. Who while caught up in a terror incident still thinks to post on stw. Stay safe.

Frank Gardner gave a good analysis on R4 Today programme at about 08:40 today (a) timing - direct respond to recent arrest (scary that they mobilise an attack so quickly) and (b) Belgian intelligence and police don't talk to each other!!!!

Can't remember the name - but it is true that there is a particular suburb of Brussles that is a so-called hot bed, but shame that the Twitter comment tried to wrap this in Brexit bllx

Sad times, wake up another day to a major terrorist attack. Thoughst with the victims and their families.

Brussels really is a hot bed for these ****ers. Without meaning to be dim, why is that so?

I don't think this is a security issue about scanning bags, a person can carry a suitcase/suicide belt into a train or bus station or as seen here the metro. From what I hear bomb went off before security

"There are no metal detectors on the doors, no guards there."

ive always thought this was odd - several african and middle east and ex soviet countries i travel through do - you cant get into the airport without having your bags xrayed and going through the scanners your self.