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The damaged facade of Brussels Airport after at least 26 people were killed and many more injured as blasts rocked the main terminal of the airport as well as a metro station in the city March 22, 2016
JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images
At least 26 people are dead and more than 100 wounded after coordinated attacks hit Brussels Airport and a metro station in the city Tuesday morning at the peak of rush hour, according to Belgian officials, NPR News reports.
“What we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said at a news conference Tuesday. Belgium has issued a Level 4 alert, denoting “serious and imminent attack,” and shut down all public transportation NBC News reports.
According to NBC, there were two explosions at the Brussels Airport around 8 a.m. local time. One of the explosions was believed to have been caused by a suicide bomber. Officials have reported at least 11 people dead and several wounded.
An hour later, another explosion at the Maelbeek subway station killed at least 15 people and injured more than 50, according to reports.
“Terrorists struck Brussels, but it was Europe that was targeted—and all the world that is concerned,” French President Francois Hollande said, NPR reports.
According to Fox News, major cities in the U.S. are ramping up security at airports and transit systems.
In New York, the New York Police Department is increasing its visible presence at the three major airports and around subway systems across the city’s five boroughs. In Los Angeles, transit security has been increased and Metro Transit Police in Washington, D.C., told Fox News that it was deploying additional patrols and conducting more security sweeps.
Editor’s note: This story is breaking. Check back throughout the day for updates.
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