Brussels Explosions: Airport, Metro Hit with At Least 28 Killed
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Several explosions struck Brussels airport and the metro system, causing at least 28 deaths, Belgian media said.
Two blasts tore through the departures area of Zaventem airport shortly after 08:00 local time.
An hour later, an explosion hit Maelbeek metro station, close to the EU institutions. The airport and whole transport system have been closed.
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels.
The Belgian government has yet to announce the final number of deaths and injuries or the cause of the explosions.
Belgium has now raised its terror threat to its highest level. Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted, "For the moment, we are asking people to stay where they are."
Meantime, European Union president Donald Tusk described the blasts as "terrorist attacks".
Belgian broadcaster VRT said that in addition to 13 deaths at the airport, at least 35 people were severely injured.
There is confusion about the casualties at the metro station. Some reports speak of at least 10 deaths but this has not been confirmed.
The Belga news agency reports that shots were fired and shouts in Arabic were heard before the two explosions at the airport. Some reports say it was a suicide attack.
