The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombings in the Zaventem airport and metro station in Brussels that killed at least 34 people and injured 186 others on Tuesday.
According to reports at least 14 people were dead and 80 were injured in the Zaventem airport bombing while 20 were killed and 106 were injured in the metro station blast.
Amaq, a news agency affiliated with the terrorist group reported, “Islamic State fighters carried out a series of bombings with explosive belts and devices on Tuesday, targeting an airport and a central metro station.”
The news agency added, “Islamic State fighters opened fire inside Zaventem Airport, before several of them detonated their explosive belts, as a martyrdom bomber detonated his explosive belt in the Maalbeek metro station.”
“Cowardly and heinous attacks”
Arnaud Feist, the chief executive of Brussels airport said there will be no more flights today.
“On behalf of the entire airport community, I would like to extend our warmest condolences to the family and friends of the victims of these cowardly and heinous acts,” said Feist.
“I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the emergency and rescue services, passengers and staff for their compassion, solidarity and help. This is without doubt the blackest day in the history of Brussels Airport,” he added.
The Belgian police released photos of suspects in the bombings at the Brussels airport. The photograph, which was circulating on social media, showed three young men pushing laden luggage trolley. The Belgium federal prosecutors confirmed that the police was focused on the man in white and wearing a hat.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government would work with Belgium to capture and bring the bombers to justice. Merkel said, “We will work in every way with the Belgian security services to find, identify and punish the perpetrators of today’s crimes.”
Authorities recently captured main suspect in Paris attacks
The terrorist group carried out the attacks in the capital of Belgium four days after authorities captured Salah Abdeslam, the main suspect in the Paris attacks in November.
The Brussels police also arrested two others suspects together with Abdeslam during a raid on Friday, March 18. Before the arrests, a Belgian police sniper killed an Algerian Islamic State operative identified as Mohamed Belkiad in an operation on Tuesday afternoon.
