Terrorists strike Brussels airport and subway, killing 31

By Park Si-soo

Powerful bombs struck the Brussels airport and one of the city's subway stations Tuesday (local time), killing at least 31 people and wounding dozens.

Belgium raised its terror alert to the highest level, diverting planes and trains and ordering people to stay where they were. Airports across Europe immediately tightened security.

The two airport blasts, at least one of which was blamed on a suicide bomber, left behind a chaotic scene of splattered blood in the departure lounge as windows were blown out, ceilings collapsed and travelers streamed out of the smoky building, according to Associated Press.

About an hour later, another bomb exploded on a rush-hour subway train near the European Union headquarters. Terrified passengers had to evacuate through darkened tunnels to safety.

“What we feared has happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters. “In this time of tragedy, this black moment for our country, I appeal to everyone to remain calm but also to show solidarity.”

European security officials have been bracing for a major attack for weeks, and warned that the Islamic State group was actively preparing to strike.

The arrest Friday of a key suspect in the November attacks in Paris heightened those fears, as investigators said many more people were involved than originally thought, and that some are still on the loose.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Tuesday's attacks, and the Prime Minister said there was no immediate evidence linking key Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam to them.

After his arrest Friday, Abdeslam told authorities he had created a new network and was planning new attacks.