Explosions in Brussels: What we know about the attacks at the airport and metro

According to a BBC report, at least 26 people have been killed in explosions at Brussels airport and metro. A double explosion occurred in the departure area of Zaventem International Airport, in the northeast of the city.

Another explosion hit the Maelbeek metro station in the city centre, near several European Union institutions.

The attacks happened four days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam in Brussels, the main suspect in the jihadist attack in Paris on 13 November 2015.

Location of the explosions

Two explosions occurred in the check-in area around 8:00 local time on Tuesday.

Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said there was a 'probability' that one of the explosions was a suicide bomb.

It is believed that the double explosion occurred at opposite ends of the check-in area, one of which was near the entrance.

An hour later, an explosion occurred at the Maelbeek metro in the city centre, near several EU institutions.

The entire metro system was closed. All flights were cancelled. Eurostar cancelled all trains to and from Brussels.

How many people died?

Belgian media report that 13 people died as a result of the explosions at the airport. The explosion at the metro killed 15 people and injured 55, according to transport operator STIB.

The government has not yet released official figures, but Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said at a press conference that there were „many dead, many wounded“.

- What we feared has happened - he added.

Why was Brussels attacked?

Although no group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon said on Monday that there was a threat of a revenge attack following the capture of Salah Abdeslam.

Abdeslam, a suspect in last year's Paris attacks, was wounded and arrested in a police raid on an apartment in Brussels last week.

Born in Belgium, of French nationality, Abdeslam is reportedly cooperating with police and fighting extradition to France.

Mr Jambon told Belgian radio the following:

- We know that stopping one cell can prompt others to act. We are aware of that in this case.

How did other countries react?

Security measures were raised to a higher level in Western European countries as a result of the attacks.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said an additional 1,600 police officers were deployed at stations, airports and border crossings. France has been on alert since the deaths of 130 people in the Paris attacks last November.

British airports and transport hubs are also tightening security measures as a precaution, and Prime Minister David Cameron is convening a meeting of the British emergency committee Cobra, which will bring together ministers, police and intelligence officials.

The official terrorist threat level in the United Kingdom remains unchanged at „severe“, the second on a scale of 5, meaning an attack is highly likely.

German officials have raised security measures at airports, train stations and border crossings with Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, a federal police spokesman said.