Explosions rock Brussels airport and subway

[Midnight]

Terror in the terminal: Chilling footage shows moment passengers cower under desks and run for their lives after suicide bomb blasts rock Brussels Airport in series of ISIS attacks that have killed 34

At least 14 people killed after two explosions struck near the check-in desks at Brussels Airport at 8am (7am GMT)
Reports of a firefight between police and attackers seconds before they shouted 'in Arabic' and detonated bombs
Terrified passengers covered in blood ran for their lives after explosion sent 'shockwaves' through terminal building
Another blast killed 20 at a Metro station near EU headquarters in Maelbeek area of central Brussels just after 9am
Two suspects arrested a mile from train station at around 11am as hundreds of troops and police flood the streets
Comes a day after Belgium minister warned of revenge strikes after arrest of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam
Were you caught up in the attacks? Contact Simon Tomlinson on 02036151926 or [e-mail]
See more of the latest news updates on the Brussels bombings as explosions hit the Belgian capital

By Simon Tomlinson and Martin Robinson and Julian Robinson and John Stevens In Brussels and Mark Duell for MailOnline

Published: 02:17 EST, 22 March 2016 | Updated: 14:38 EST, 22 March 2016


Cowering under desks and running for their lives, this is the terrifying moment passengers were caught up in an ISIS suicide bomb attack at Brussels Airport today in a series of blasts that have killed at least 34 people and injured 170 across the city.

Witnesses described apocalyptic scenes with blood and 'dismembered bodies everywhere' after two blasts rocked the terminal at around 8am (7am GMT), killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens of others.

Then 79 minutes later at 9.19am, at least 20 people were killed and scores injured, some critically, when a blast hit a Metro station just 400 metres from the EU headquarters in the city centre.

At the airport, there were reports of a firefight between police and the attackers who shouted in Arabic moments before detonating their bombs, one of which was understood to contain nails.

An unexploded suicide vest was later found in the rubble and a Kalashnikov rifle beside the body of a dead terrorist. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The blasts, which detonated near a Starbucks and several check-in desks, sent shockwaves through the terminal building, shattering windows and knocking roof tiles off the ceiling as terrified passengers ran for their lives.

The explosions, coming just four months after the Paris attacks, have left countries around the world reeling, with security services placed on high alert, flights cancelled, Eurostar services suspended and France's border with Belgium shut down.

Full story, pictures, and video at link

[Midnight]

Touching moment EU minister breaks down in tears and has to leave the stage while addressing conference after Brussels attacks

Federica Mogherini was overcome with emotion at conference in Jordan
She said 'it's a very sad day for Europe' and 'today is a difficult day'
When Jordanian minister Nasser Judeh started speaking she broke down
She whispered 'I'm sorry' and briefly hugged him before leaving the stage

By Thomas Burrows for MailOnline

Published: 10:03 EST, 22 March 2016 | Updated: 13:26 EST, 22 March 2016

Fighting back tears following the Brussels terrorist attacks, Europe's foreign policy chief abruptly walked out of a news conference in Jordan saying 'today is a difficult day'.

Federica Mogherini was finishing her opening statement at a joint news conference with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh when she was overcome by emotion.

When Mr Judeh resumed speaking, she walked over to him, whispered 'I'm sorry,' and briefly embraced him. The two then walked off the stage.


Full story, pictures, and video at link

[Midnight]

Police launch massive manhunt for suspect in a white coat as chilling airport CCTV shows 'ISIS bombers' wearing single black gloves to hide triggers for suicide vests in attacks that left 34 dead

ISIS has claimed responsibility for the massacres, which have killed 34 in total and injured close to 200 others
CCTV from Brussels airport reveals picture of three suspects and man in a hat now believed to be on the run
Anti-terror police said they had found another bomb, an ISIS flag and 'chemical products' in raids after attacks
14 people were killed and 50 more injured in two bombs at Brussels airport while 20 killed on Maelbeek Metro train
Foreign Ministry say some terrorists involved in deadly plot are 'still at large' and Britain and U.S. helping with hunt
Armed police have arrested two men in dramatic stand-off in city centre and suspect also held on Amsterdam train
Following the attack in Brussels, ISIS threatened to hit the UK 'harder and more bitter through the grace of Allah'

By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline and Emma Glanfield for MailOnline

Published: 07:01 EST, 22 March 2016 | Updated: 15:34 EST, 22 March 2016



Wanted: Police have issued an appeal to catch this ISIS suspect, seen on CCTV footage dressed in a white shirt and jacket and wearing a dark hat as he pushed a luggage trolley through the airport minutes before two bombs rocked Brussels Airport

A major manhunt is underway for an ISIS suspect in a white coat and black hat who fled Brussels Airport after two explosions ripped through the terminal in a suicide bomb attack this morning, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others.

Police issued a wanted notice for the man who was seen on CCTV calmly pushing a luggage trolley through the check-in area with two other suspects minutes before the blasts at about 8am (7am GMT) today.

His alleged accomplices were wearing black gloves on their left hands, which security sources say would have hidden the triggers for their explosive vests. Bombs were also said to have been planted in their suitcases which they checked in just minutes before the atrocities.

The two men blew themselves up while the third suspect is believed to have left a nail bomb before being spotted running from the terminal.

It is not known if the fugitive then sped to Maelbeek station to carry out the other blast that killed 20 people in a subway train just 79 minutes later.

Belgian police launched the manhunt as ISIS claimed responsibility for the massacres, which killed 34 people in total and injured close to 200 others.

As a series of anti-terror police raids were mounted across Belgium today, prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw confirmed two suicide bombers died in the attack on Brussels' main airport while the third is being 'actively' sought.

In a statement, officers appealed for information about the on-the-run suspect, who was pictured wearing a hat and a light-coloured jacket.

'Police are looking to identify this man. He is suspected of having committed the attack at Zaventem on Tuesday March 22,' it said.

It also emerged this afternoon that police had discovered another nail bomb, a number of 'chemical products' and an ISIS flag at a house in the Schaerbeek area during a raid in connection with this morning's attacks.

Police conducted dozens of raids and swooped on a number of suspects as the Belgian Foreign Ministry said many of those behind the terror plot are 'still at large'.

It came after the world today woke up to yet another deadly terror attack in Europe - just four months after 130 people were massacred in Paris.

In all too familiar scenes, terrifying photos showed bloodied victims and maimed bodies after two bombs were detonated at Brussels' main airport.

Just 79 minutes later, commuters on their way to work lost limbs as a third bomb tore apart a train carriage on the Metro line in Maelbeek. - killing 14.

Horrifying pictures, many of which resemble the heartbreaking devastation seen in the wake of the London 7/7 bombings, show innocent commuters covered in blood and sprawled out on the floor after being targeted in the attack.

Europe now remains on high alert amid fears of further attacks from ISIS, which has already threatened to hit the UK 'harder and more bitter'.

In a statement released today following the Brussels attack, the terrorist group said on its official Telegram account: 'We promise to the states that are allied against the Islamic State that they will face dark days in return for their aggression against our state.

'And what will await you will become harder and more bitter through the grace of Allah.

'In praise of Allah who has made our blows precise and helped us succeed. we demand for him to accept our brothers among the martyrs.'

Full story, pictures, ,and video at link

[bloodbought]

[Midnight]

Outrage as Turkish president reveals they arrested one of the Brussels bombers in June and deported him BACK to Belgium - and even warned authorities he was a militant

Turkish president reveals Ibrahim El Bakraoui was detained in Gaziantep in southern Turkey near the Syrian border
Belgian brothers Ibrahim and Khalid El Bakraoui named as suicide bombers who struck in airport and Metro train
Najim Laachraoui originally thought to be 'Man in White' but tonight dramatically revealed as other airport bomber
It means the 'Man in White' - now Europe's most wanted man - remains a mystery and he is still thought to be on run
Brussels airport bomber Laachraoui was explosives expert who also made suicide vests for the Paris massacres
Twin ISIS attacks killed 34 people - 14 at Brussels airport at 8am and 20 more at Maelbeek station 79 minutes later
Driver who took terrorists to airport reveals that fourth suitcase bomb was left behind because it wouldn't fit in taxi
Cabbie was suspicious after attacks and led police to safehouse containing fourth bomb, ISIS flag and suicide note

By Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter and Simon Tomlinson and Emma Glanfield for MailOnline

Published: 02:08 EST, 23 March 2016 | Updated: 15:59 EST, 23 March 2016


One of the Brussels bombers was arrested in Turkey and deported back to Belgium in June with a warning that he was a militant, it has sensationally been revealed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ibrahim El Bakraoui, who yesterday blew himself up at Brussels Airport, was arrested in Gaziantep in southern Turkey close to the Syrian border last summer. Officials said he was deported to Holland before being passed back over to Belgium.

The president said Belgian authorities had failed to confirm the suspect's links to terrorism 'despite our warnings that he was a foreign fighter'.

The revelation came as it was dramatically revealed this evening that the identity of the 'Man in White', who was previously thought to be explosives expert Najim Laachraoui, remains a mystery. He is now Europe's most wanted man and a major international manhunt to find him remains ongoing.

It emerged as it was revealed that Laachraoui was actually the other airport suicide bomber, who was pictured on the left-hand side on CCTV footage showing the three ISIS suspects wheeling their suitcases into the terminal prior to the deadly bombing which occurred at 8am local time yesterday.

Ibrahim and Laachraoui killed 14 people and injured dozens of others when they set off suicide vests and explosives-packed suitcases at the airport. They were accompanied by the 'Man in White' who abandoned his suicide mission and fled the terminal when his nail-shrouded bomb failed to explode.

Just 79 minutes later, Ibrahim's brother - Khalid El Bakraoui - detonated his suicide vest on a Brussels Metro train at Maelbeek station killing 20 people.

Earlier today, it emerged that Ibrahim left a suicide note telling how he was desperate to blow himself up because he did not want to go to prison like his friend, the Paris logistics chief Salah Abdeslam.

The typed note, found next to 15kg of homemade explosives, an AK-47 and an ISIS flag during a raid at a property in the Schaerbeek area of the city, said: 'I don't know what to do. I'm in a hurry. I'm on the run. People are looking for me everywhere. And if I give myself up then I'll end up in a cell.'

The latest twist came after it was revealed the Belgian El Bakraoui brothers escaped police in a gunfight during an anti-terror raid just eight days ago.


Full story, pictures, and video at link