maalbeek brussels
© Marija Ivoninaite / AFPEmergency services take care of wounded people outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels on March 22, 2016 after a blast at this station located near the EU institutions
As Belgium raises its terror threat to the highest "fourth" level, and the country's prime minister confirms the attacks as acts of terrorism, RT sums up what we know so far about today's explosions in Brussels.

1. Three explosions took place in Brussels. Two blasts went off in the departure hall of Brussels' Zaventem Airport at around 8am local time, with at least one of them being a suicide bombing, according to Belgium's federal prosecutor. One bomb exploded at the Maalbeek Metro station, which is close to the European Union headquarters.


Comment: "The Maalbeek station is also near a number of important EU buildings such as Berlaymont building, which houses the EU Commission and the Council of the European Union. ... The French BFMTV station, citing police sources, says that Belgian intelligence had advanced knowledge of the terrorist attacks in the country, but did not know when and where they would take place."


2. The number of casualties is changing, with current reports putting it at 34 people killed - 20 in the Metro, 14 at the airport. Over 100 people were injured in the Metro blast alone, 17 of them "severely," according to Brussels mayor Yvan Mayeur. Over 90 were reportedly wounded at the airport.


Comment: Current estimates are at 230 people injured.


3. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel has confirmed that the blasts were terrorist attacks. Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels. According to Egyptian media, a statement from the terrorist group was published by IS-linked Amaq News Agency.

The blasts come just days after Salah Abdeslam, the key surviving suspect in the attacks on Paris in November of last year, was arrested in the Belgian capital.


4. Brussels is on lockdown, the airport is closed, flights have been canceled, and incoming flights diverted. Trains to and from the airport have been halted. Public transport has been suspended. Security has been tightened at other airports across Europe.

5. Countrywide, the terror threat has been raised to the highest "fourth" level, while EU institutions have been put on an "Orange" level alert. The government is sending 225 extra troops to Brussels following the explosions.

6. A number of other blasts have been heard in the Belgian capital, and are reported as being controlled explosions performed by security services. Several suspicious packages have been discovered around the city, including suspicious objects at the airport, and have been neutralized by bomb technicians.


Comment: A second blast heard on the same street as the EU buildings was reportedly not a new attack, but "mine disposal experts ... clearing the area around Maalbeek station."