Brussels airport and metro hit by blasts

Explosions rocked the Brussels airport and the subway system on Tuesday, killing 26 people and injuring over 100, according to reports. Switzerland’s president sent a message of sympathy to the victims of the attacks.

Two explosions ripped through the departure hall at Brussels Zaventem airport at around 8am local time on Tuesday, minutes apart.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor confirmed that one of the explosions at Brussels airport was carried out by a suicide bomber. Belgian media reported 13 deaths and over 80 people injured.

An explosion was also reported about 30 minutes later at Maelbeek metro station, which is located 500 metres from European Union buildings. A Brussels transit spokesman told Associated Press that 15 died and 55 were injured in the metro attack.

They occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, a suspected participant in November 2015 militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.

Belgium's terror alert level was raised to its highest level and Brussels is now in lockdown. All incoming and departing flights are cancelled. The airport is closed until 6am on Wednesday. Authorities told people in Brussels to stay where they were, bringing the city to a standstill. Airport security was also tightened in Paris, London and other European cities.

Metro stations and the city’s museums have also been reportedly shut. Eurostar has suspended trains to and from Brussels Midi station.

Belgium's prime minister, Charles Michel, said military reinforcements had been deployed. He called for "calm and solidarity" after what he described as a "dark tragedy".

Swiss President Joha Schneider-Amma posted a message of sympathy to the victims on Twitter: “Switzerland is deeply touched by the events today in Brussels. Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families.”

Security has also been stepped up at Geneva and Zurich airports following the attacks.

Around a dozen Easyjet and Brussels Airlines flights were cancelled between Geneva and the Belgian capital. Around 500 people were affected. Two planes from Geneva landed just before the explosions.

Zurich airport was unaffected by the disruptions, according to a spokesperson. Security has been adapted accordingly. Swiss Inteational Airlines, which has three flights between Zurich and Brussels, diverted one of its planes to Düsseldorf airport in Germany.

The Swiss foreign ministry has set up a crisis cell in coordination with the embassy in Brussels and consulate in The Hague. Travel advice for visitors to Belgium will be issued shortly.

swissinfo.ch with agencies