Brussels explosions: Airport and metro hit with 'at least 13 killed'

Several explosions have struck Brussels airport and the metro system, causing at least 13 deaths, Belgian media say. Two blasts tore through the departures area of Zaventem airport shortly after 08:00 local time (07:00 GMT).

The departures hall at Zaventem following the blasts

An hour later, an explosion hit Maelbeek metro station, close to the EU institutions. The airport and whole transport system have been closed. The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels.

Passengers are escorted from a metro train after the blast at Maelbeek station

The whole metro system has been closed

The Belgian government has yet to confirm the number of deaths and injuries or the cause of the explosions. Belgium has now raised its terror threat to its highest level. Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted: "For the moment, we are asking people to stay where they are."

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European Union president Donald Tusk described the blasts as "terrorist attacks".

'Blood everywhere'

Belgian broadcaster VRT said that in addition to 13 deaths at the airport, at least 35 people were severely injured. There is confusion about the casualties at the metro station. Some reports speak of at least 10 deaths but this has not been confirmed.

The Belga news agency reports that shots were fired and shouts in Arabic were heard before the two explosions at the airport. Some reports say it was a suicide attack. Images on social media showed panic as people fled the airport.

Rail transport to the airport has been halted and people have been told not to come. All flights have been diverted. Eurostar has cancelled all trains to and from Brussels.

Security has been stepped up at Gatwick and Heathrow airports and the UK Foreign Office has advised British nationals to avoid crowded areas in Belgium. UK PM David Cameron will chair a meeting of the Cobra response committee later on Tuesday morning.

France has stepped up security. President Francois Hollande has held a cabinet meeting to discuss the Belgian explosions. There is also extra security at Dutch airports.