Terror returns to Brussels, where several explosions rocked the Belgian capital on Tuesday morning: a couple occurred around 8 at the airport Zaventen causing, according to official estimates provided in the middle of the day by the Belgian government, 11 dead and dozens injured. Shortly after, around 9,20, another explosion was recorded, this time in the underground station of Maelbeek, close to the headquarters of the European institutions. At the Maelbeek stop there would be at least 20 victims, according to official news provided by the Belgian government: the total number of wounded has risen to over 250. These are kamikaze attacks, of Islamic terrorist origin: the claim of ISIS has arrived. And in the early afternoon, the Farnesina confirmed that "there are three Italians among the wounded", but they are not serious.
MAXIMUM ALERT – Just three days ago in the Belgian capital had been arrested Salah Abdeslam, the main wanted for the Paris attacks of 13 November. The local prosecutor had raised the alarm for new attacks: today the alert was raised to level 4, the highest possible. The institutions have made available a call center for emergencies: number 1771.
The police closed the airport, evacuated it and cut off train connections to and from the airport. All the metro stations have also been closed and the central railway station has been evacuated (which however is reopened starting at 16). The border between France and Belgium, schools, universities, public offices and all tunnels in the country, longer than 300 meters, have been closed, as well as the Liège nuclear power plant. The airport has made available a special number: +32.02/753.73.00.
“There are different people still stuck at subway station of Maelbeek,” said Health Minister Maggie De Block, as reported by La Libre Belgique. But above all there is alarming news coming from the airport, where the police continue to inspect the airport: the agents - writes La Libre Belgique again - are not convinced that all the terrorists have left the airport. Around 14 pm the local broadcaster Vtm also refers to an unexploded jacket, belonging to a third terrorist, found at Brussels airport: the bomb squad detonated the bomb. According to CNN, the bomb at the airport may have been transported in a suitcase. Official US sources say so, reported by CNN. Confirming the imminent danger, the action of the leather heads in the center of the Belgian capital.
REACTIONS FROM THE WORLD – Other European countries are also on high alert: French President François Hollande has convened an emergency meeting at the Elysée, while the Italian premier Matteo Renzi chaired the security committee at Palazzo Chigi at 15 pm: “On behalf of Italy, I offer my condolences for this morning's terrible attack – said Renzi at the press conference -. Today's tears make us even closer to the Belgian people. The time has come to say bluntly that the threat is global but the killers are also inside the cities. The killers hide in the suburbs, protected by certain urban areas. We need an all-out security project without stopping”.
“I feel the same unease of the Italians – continued Renzi -, I say this as prime minister but also as a father. I say we won't let the terrorists win. We owe it to the victims of this attack, to their memories, but also to the Italians. Those who offer miraculous solutions today, such as closing borders, do not realize how long this situation will last. Those who delude themselves and say 'let's close the borders' do not realize that the enemies are already inside our cities. This is not the time for impulsive reactions - concluded the premier - but it is the time for calm. But anger is all needed, it is necessary for a reaction that becomes a project and that faces and destroys Islamic extremism and the mad trail of death”.
Increased security measures in Rome after this morning's attacks in Brussels. The controls strengthened already in recent months after the terrorism alert have been further strengthened. It is maximum attention in the city, in particular for the surveillance of sensitive objectives and crowded places such as subways, stations and airports.
The Crisis Unit of the Farnesina he recommended in a tweet "to his compatriots present in Brussels to avoid travel at the moment". The emergency number is: +39-06-36225. Security measures also reinforced in the UK. Federica Mogherini in tears: "A very sad day for Europe". French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is harsh: "We are at war." Pope Francis also spoke, "condemning the blind violence that has caused so much suffering" in Belgium.
