Wearside woman describes being caught up in Brussels terror attacks

A Wearside woman living in Brussels has described how the city is coping with this morning's terror attacks.
In this image taken from TV, an armed member of the security forces stands guard as emergency services attend the scene after a explosion in a main metro station in Brussels.In this image taken from TV, an armed member of the security forces stands guard as emergency services attend the scene after a explosion in a main metro station in Brussels.
In this image taken from TV, an armed member of the security forces stands guard as emergency services attend the scene after a explosion in a main metro station in Brussels.

Around 30 people are believed to have been killed and many more injured after terrorist bomb attacks on the city's main airport and Metro system .The coordinated attacks came as the Belgian capital was on high alert following the arrest of Paris atrocity suspect Salah Abdeslam in the city last week. A suicide bomber struck near the American Airlines desk at the airport, with local media reporting that shots were fired amid shouting in Arabic. The explosion on the Metro was at the Maelbeek station.near European Union buildings and the US embassy.Tash Slater, from Houghton, told Radio Newcastle: "I actually live right by Maelbeek, right in the centre of it all.

She had been on her way to the office when the second bomb went off: "I did not hear it at all, actually" she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I had just left the house, I had seen about the airport, and was on my way to work. By the time I got to work, which was about ten minutes away, I saw that the bomb had gone off."

With the city on lock-down, workers have been advised to stay indoors."To be honest, I am just hiding away in my office," said Ms Slater.

"We can just hear lots and lots of sirens going past - I don't think anyone is really working, everyone is just trying to get in touch with friends and family , checking everyone is all right."

As the city went into lock down::: A fire service spokesman said there were 11 dead at the airport and "around 10" at Maelbeek station, where "there was a very big explosion":: Police forces across the UK increased their presence at key locations as a precaution in the wake of the attacks :: Belgian prime minister Charles Michel tweeted: "For the moment, we are asking people to stay where they are":: Brussels Airport, which handles 23.5 million passengers per year, told users on Twitter: "There have been 2 explosions at the airport. Building is being evacuated. Don't come to the airport area":: Britons in Brussels were advised by the Foreign Office to avoid crowded places and public transport:: David Cameron called a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee and tweeted a message of support, saying: "I am shocked and concerned by the events in Brussels. We will do everything we can to help"First news of the attacks came when the airport was rocked by a double blast around 7am UK time.Jef Versele, 40, from Ghent, told the Press Association: "I was on my way to check in and two bombs went off - two explosions. "I didn't see anything. Everything was coming down. Glassware. It was chaos. It was unbelievable. It was the worst thing."He added: "People were running away. There were lots of people on the ground. A lot of people are injured."Mr Versele was two or three storeys above the source of the explosion but he said many people around him were hurt."The bomb was coming from downstairs. It was going up through the roof. It was big."About 15 windows were just blown out from the entrance hall," he added.The attack on the Metro came about an hour later and left at least 10 dead, according to local media.Evan Lamos tweeted a picture of passengers climbing from his train into the tunnel near Maelbeek station, saying: "We are being evacuated from the back of the Metro."Smoke in the tunnel as we evacuate."The picture was reminiscent of images after the July 7 attacks in London.Other images showed the injured from the Metro being treated in the street while at the airport people could be seen fleeing in terror in video footage shot from an airport car park.Footage from inside the airport building showed a scene of devastation with ceiling tiles strewn across the floor and suitcases abandoned.