Rail traffic restored following failed terrorist attack
A minor explosion at Brussels Central Station last night shut down train stations and led to the shooting death of the suspect
No injuries as bomb fails to detonate
The identity of the suspect has not yet been released, though he was known to police, according to a source speaking to De Standaard. He was not, however, known for radicalisation.
According to a witness who works for NMBS, the man pushed a suitcase on a trolley cart under a stairwell in the station and then “began to shout and scream. The suitcase blew up immediately. There were four people in the vicinity, all train passengers. Luckily, none of them was injured.”
According to VRT, that small explosion was an ignition attempt to explode a much larger device. Bomb squad Dovo was called in and found further explosives on the body of the suspect, according to the news outlet, which were exploded under controlled circumstances.
Interior affairs minister Jan Jambon praised the quick reaction of the military, who have been patrolling Brussels major rail stations since the terrorist attacks of March 2016, and their activities in the hours following the incident. “The military operate according to a protocol that exists between them and the police,” he said. “They were called in to monitor the situation and guarantee the security of travellers. I think we can say that they have performed adequately and that resources were correctly deployed.”
A press conference is expected today at 11.00 when the Brussels prosecutor’s office will confirm or correct reports.
In the meantime, all rail traffic has been restored, and Central Station has re-opened to passengers. There are no significant remaining delays or cancellations.
Photo: Bruno Fahy/BELGA
About the author
Lisa Bradshaw is the editor-in-chief of Flanders Today. She worked as an editor and journalist in her homeland, the United States, before moving to the awesome city of Ghent in 2004. If she’s not in the office, she’s probably at a film festival.
