Frankfurt airport on high alert after Brussels explosions
A police officer stands by check-in desks at Frankfurt airport. File photo: DPA
http://www.thelocal.de/20160322/germany-tightens-airport-controls-after-brussels-explosionsPublished: 22 Mar 2016 09:28 GMT+01:00
Updated: 22 Mar 2016 10:09 GMT+01:00
German federal police are tightening security at the country's largest airport in Frankfurt following two explosions at Brussels airport.
Officers have been placed on high alert and additional patrols ordered for sensitive areas, broadcaster n-tv reported early on Tuesday.
A federal police spokeswoman told The Local that they were still evaluating the situation following the explosions in Brussels and would give details of security measures at other airports as soon as possible.
One The Local reader reported increased police presence at Cologne airport on Tuesday morning.
.@TheLocalGermany At #CGN visibly larger police presence as well as of now. #Brussels #Cologne
— G. Shurkhovetskyy (@shurkhovetskyy) 22. März 2016
Federal police were also unable to comment on whether security would be increased on local transport services in German cities after explosions were also reported on the Brussels metro system at the Maalbeek, Schuman and Arts-Loi stations.
La RTBF confirme les explosions aux stations Arts-loi, Maelbeek (gouvernement belge) et Schuman (Union européenne)
— Vivien Vergnaud (@Vergnaud) March 22, 2016
A spokeswoman for the Berlin police told The Local that security measures on public transport were already at a high level and were constantly adjusted to the security situation.
Just arrived at Schuman station after walking on the tracks. pic.twitter.com/4xc0YCQmIv
— Evan Lamos (@evanlamos) 22. März 2016
Area around Maelbeek metro sealed off, I can see 4 ambulances, 1 fire engine. pic.twitter.com/xFmMBqcVdZ
— Jennifer Rankin (@JenniferMerode) March 22, 2016
Two explosions in airport
Brussels airport confirmed that there had been two explosions shortly after 8am and warned passengers not to come to the airport, which would be closed until further notice.
Belgian police confirmed that at least one person died and several were injured in the blasts.
Picture of Airport Zaventem #Brussels after the attack pic.twitter.com/pbolw99pfz
— Lammert de Bruin (@lammert) 22. März 2016
However other unconfirmed reports say as many as 11 could have been killed. One witness said children were among the injured.
Bomb explosion at Brussel airport. Apparent terrorist activity. Airport is on lockdown and being evacuated. pic.twitter.com/nPRbdzFQdO
— Taa Wongbe (@twongbe) 22. März 2016
Belgian authorities have implemented their emergency response plan and the terror alert has been raised to its maximum level.
The city has since gone into lock-down with the capital's Metro system closed down and unconfirmed reports the main train station has been evacuated.
A section of the airport's roof is believed to have collapsed amid the explosions, one of which is believed to have occurred in the departure lounge.
echt #wtf daar in #zaventem :-( pic.twitter.com/2AGTBBA0xs
— ward markey (@wardmarkey) 22. März 2016
Images and videos showed smoke rising above the airport while passengers fled in panic. Other images showed injured passengers lying on the ground, some covered in blood, with their clothes ripped off in the explosion.
The cause of the explosions is unknown, but they come at a time when the Belgium capital is on high alert for terror attacks after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, the chief suspect in the Paris November attacks.
One witness named David Crunelle told L'Express newspaper: "I heard two distinct explosions about three seconds apart. They occurred near the international check-in desks for flights to the United States.
"After the explosion, everything became dark. There was a lot of smoke but no flames. There was no movement of panic but people began to get out of the airport straight away.
"I saw at least six people severely injured, including children. There are a lot of people lightly injured, covered in blood. Many are crying," he said.
Many ambulances arrive at the Airport. Passengers from Terminal A waiting outside, Police checks building. pic.twitter.com/DL3YoGFV0M
— Katrin Kuntz (@katrinkuntz) March 22, 2016
Condolences from Germany
German leaders were quick to react on social media to the Brussels attacks.
Schockierende Nachrichten aus #Brüssel. Das sind einfach barbarische Taten. Unsere Mitgefühl gilt den Familien und Freunden der Opfer.
— Heiko Maas (@HeikoMaas) 22. März 2016
"Shocking news from Brussels. These are simply barbaric acts. Our sympathy goes to the families and friends of the victims," Justice Minister Heiko Maas tweeted.
Wir hören von weiteren Explosionen hier in der Brüsseler Innenstadt. Beunruhigend. Wir bleiben erstmal in den Gebäuden.
— Simone Peter (@peter_simone) March 22, 2016
Green Party leader Simone Peter was in Brussels at the time of the attacks and said she was sheltering indoors. The situation was "upsetting", she said.