Belgium foils terror attack: Suspect killed
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| Belgian army soldiers patrol around the Central train station in Brussels- AFP |
(Vatican Radio) Belgian authorities say they have foiled a
"terror attack" as soldiers shot and killed a suspect after a small
explosion at a busy Brussels train station. The incident continued a week of
attacks in capitals of Europe.
Police were seen rushing to the Brussels Central Station as
it became apparent that deadly violence once again rocked the Belgian capital.
Soon after, authorities confirmed that a man, believed to be
in his 30s, was in their soldiers immediately after the explosion there on
Tuesday night.
The male suspect was reportedly agitated, yelling about jihadists and then "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "Allah is great,"
before blowing up something on a baggage trolley.
Remy Bonnaffe was among those witnessing the attack. "I was heading from work on my way home and was waiting in the central hall when all of a sudden I could hear a very loud explosion," he recalled. "And it was at that point that I started looking around and then I saw something burning just in front of me. Then people started to run away. But then shortly after there was a second explosion," Bonnaffe explained.
"And then people started to run away more in panic. It was then at that point that I could also hear rapid bangs. I was not sure what it was, but to me, it sounded like gun shots. And then I run away to the Hilton [hotel] because I thought that was the safest place to be," he added.
BOMB SQUAD
The suspect lay still for several hours while a bomb squad checked whether he was armed with more explosives.
No other explosives were found on his body, though several Belgian media had reported earlier that the suspect was wearing a bomb belt.
Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt told reporters that authorities are now investigating the terror attack. "About 8.30 pm there was a small explosion at the central station here in Brussels. The suspect has been neutralized by the military that was present at the scene after the explosion," he said. "There were no other victims. This incident is considered as a terrorist attack," the spokesman added.
Belgium has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people on the Brussels subway and at an airport in March 2016.
There have been attacks in Paris and London in recent days, including the assault by a van driver who tried to run down worshippers outside a London mosque.
In Brussels, extra police and soldiers in camouflage gear have become a common sight in crowded areas.
The male suspect was reportedly agitated, yelling about jihadists and then "Allahu akbar," Arabic for "Allah is great,"
before blowing up something on a baggage trolley.
Remy Bonnaffe was among those witnessing the attack. "I was heading from work on my way home and was waiting in the central hall when all of a sudden I could hear a very loud explosion," he recalled. "And it was at that point that I started looking around and then I saw something burning just in front of me. Then people started to run away. But then shortly after there was a second explosion," Bonnaffe explained.
"And then people started to run away more in panic. It was then at that point that I could also hear rapid bangs. I was not sure what it was, but to me, it sounded like gun shots. And then I run away to the Hilton [hotel] because I thought that was the safest place to be," he added.
BOMB SQUAD
The suspect lay still for several hours while a bomb squad checked whether he was armed with more explosives.
No other explosives were found on his body, though several Belgian media had reported earlier that the suspect was wearing a bomb belt.
Federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt told reporters that authorities are now investigating the terror attack. "About 8.30 pm there was a small explosion at the central station here in Brussels. The suspect has been neutralized by the military that was present at the scene after the explosion," he said. "There were no other victims. This incident is considered as a terrorist attack," the spokesman added.
Belgium has been on high alert since suicide bombers killed 32 people on the Brussels subway and at an airport in March 2016.
There have been attacks in Paris and London in recent days, including the assault by a van driver who tried to run down worshippers outside a London mosque.
In Brussels, extra police and soldiers in camouflage gear have become a common sight in crowded areas.
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