Brussels explosions: 26 feared dead, many more injured

BRUSSELS: The number of people killed in the terror strikes in the Belgian capital

Brussels

on Tuesday morning has now gone up to 26, according to reports.

Blasts occurred at the departure hall of the city's airport and at a metro station.

Pierre Meys, the spokesman for the Brussels fire brigade, told AFP 11 people died in twin blasts at Brussels airport.

Another 15 are feared dead and over 50 injured in a huge explosion at the Maalbeek metro station.

"Most of the wounded have been evacuated. The scene is rather chaotic," he said.

The Belgian public broadcaster VRT has said that Brussels airport bomb was suicide attack.

Belgian news agency Belga said shots were fired and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the explosions at the airport.

Shortly after twin blasts at the airport, an explosion was reported at the metro station in Brussels which is close to EU institutions. Metro operator STIB announced on Twitter that the metro was closing.

The blasts occurred four days after the arrest of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people in Brussels itself. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.