Terror has gripped Europe again after three explosions rocked Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the home of the European Union itself. Belgian media is reporting that at least 26 people have died and the number continues to climb.
Two blasts hit the Zaventem airport at 7:00 GMT, reports the BBC. The Belgian health minister said that 11 people were killed there, and another 81 were injured.
Just an hour later, explosion struck the Maelbeek metro station. Officials first said that 15 people were killed and 55 injured. The station is close to the European quarter, where many European Union buildings are.
However, CNN reports that Belgian media have reported that the number of dead at the train station rose to 20. The number of deaths at the airport climbed to 14. Around 170 injuries have now been reported.
“We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said, reports CNN.
Belgian federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said that at least one of the explosions at the airport was from a suicide bomber.
This is the latest terrorist attack to strike Europe, coming after November’s attacks in Paris, which ISIS said it was responsible for. It also comes just days after Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to be the only survivor who took part in the Paris attacks, was arrested in Brussels.
“These attacks mark another low by the terrorists in the service of hatred and violence,” European Council president Donald Tusk said.
The airport and public transit in the Belgian capital has been completely shut down.