Brussels railway station: Security forces shoot suspected suicide bomber
Belgian officials said a man suspected of being a would-be suicide bomber was shot by soldiers at Brussels Central Station. The man reportedly set off a small explosion which is believed to have caused no injuries. Officials said the suspect was shot dead and that the incident is being treated as a terrorist attack.
Timeline of deadly terrorist attacks in Europe in 2017
On June 19, one person was killed and eight injured when a van mowed down Muslim worshippers in Finsbury Park, London. On June 3, three terrorists mowed down pedestrians in a van and went on a knife-attack killing eight people and injuring scores more in London. On May 22, a suicide attack on Manchester arena killed 22 people and injured 59 more.
Timeline of terrorist attacks in Europe in 2017 (Continued)
On April 20, a suspected ISIS operative shot dead a policeman on the Champs Elysees, Paris. On April 7, a suspected ISIS terrorist drove a truck down a busy shopping street in Stockholm, Sweden, killing four and injuring 15. On March 22, a man mowed down pedestrians and went on a knife attack on Westminster Bridge, London, killing five people.
ISIS attack on Brussels in March 2016 killed 32
On March 22, 2016, at least 32 people were killed after three suicide bombers conducted twin attacks on Brussels' Zaventem airport and Maelbeek underground station. ISIS had claimed responsibility for the attack.
Witness describes chaos after low-intensity explosion
Belgian prosecutors said the suspect was wearing a rucksack and a bomb belt. A railway sorting agent named Nicolas Van Herrewegen said he heard a man creating a commotion. "Then he cried 'Allahu Akbar' and he blew up a wheeled suitcase," he said. "It wasn't exactly a big explosion but the impact was pretty big," he added. "People were running away."
Witness describes suspect as well-built, tanned man with short hair
Van Herrewegen said the suspect was well-built, tanned and had short hair. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt. "I saw that he [suspect] had something on him because I could see wires emerging, so it may have been a suicide vest."
Brussels station evacuated, trains services suspended
Following the explosion, officials evacuated the station and Grand Palace. Businesses and restaurants were ordered to shut down. Arash Aazami, a witness, said: "Looked around, saw people running in the streets, trying to seek refuge…." Metro train services running through the station were briefly suspended. Another witness said: "I'm happy that no-one was injured and that this was basically a failed attempt."
