Blast on Brussels metro near EU buildings, system ordered closed

March 22, 2016 | 19:49

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An explosion occurred Tuesday at a metro station in Brussels close to the European Union's institutions in the Belgian capital, subway staff told AFP.

A picture taken on Mar 22, 2016 shows smoke rising from the Maalbeek underground, in Brussels, following a blast at the station close to the capital's European quarter. (Photo: AFP/Belga/Seppe Knapen)

BRUSSELS: An explosion occurred on Tuesday (Mar 22) at a metro station in Brussels close to the European Union's institutions in the Belgian capital, injuring more than a dozen people, shortly after twin blasts rocked the city's airport.

The metro blast occurred shortly after 0800 GMT, in the morning rush hour, at Maalbeek station.

Black smoke and clouds of dust billowed from the station entrance, about a hundred metres from the European Commission, the EU's executive arm.

More than a dozen people were lying on the pavement outside with bloodied faces and were being treated by emergency services. The metro operator later said the service was being closed down.

At least one person was killed in the blasts at the city's airport, according to an early toll, and the Belgian authorities raised the country's terrorism alert from three to the maximum four.

An explosion occurred Tuesday at a metro station in Brussels close to the European Union's institutions in the Belgian capital, subway staff told AFP.