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Belgium mourns amid hunt for suspect

By Editor
24 March 2016   |   1:51 am
Belgium is observing three days of mourning following bomb attacks in the capital, Brussels, that left 34 people dead and about 250 wounded.
A police officer stands guard near a security perimeter set in the Rue de la Loi near the Maalbeek subway station, in Brussels, on March 22, 2016, after an explosion killed around 10 people, according to spokesman of Brussels' fire brigade A string of explosions rocked Brussels airport and a city metro station on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people, according to media reports, as Belgium raised its terror threat to the maximum level. / AFP / Belga / HATIM KAGHAT / Belgium OUT

A police officer stands guard near a security perimeter set in the Rue de la Loi near the Maalbeek subway station, in Brussels, on March 22, 2016, after an explosion killed around 10 people, according to spokesman of Brussels’ fire brigade<br />A string of explosions rocked Brussels airport and a city metro station on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people, according to media reports, as Belgium raised its terror threat to the maximum level. / AFP / Belga / HATIM KAGHAT / Belgium OUT

Belgium is observing three days of mourning following bomb attacks in the capital, Brussels, that left 34 people dead and about 250 wounded.

A minute’s silence for the victims was held at yesterday (11:00 GMT).
Police are continuing a huge manhunt for a suspect caught on CCTV shortly before two bombs exploded at Zaventem airport on Tuesday morning.

An hour later, another blast tore through a metro train near the Maelbeek station.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it was behind the attacks and warned that more would follow.

Meanwhile, the United States (U.S.) state department has urged U.S. citizens of the “potential risks” of travelling to Europe.

A statement said terror groups were planning “near-term attacks throughout Europe, targeting sporting events, tourist sites, restaurants and transportation”.

Tuesday’s blasts came four days after the capture in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam, who investigators say, was involved in last November’s terror attacks in Paris.

Abdeslam was due to appear before a pre-trial court in Brussels on yesterday.
Hundreds of people crowded into Place de la Bourse late into Tuesday night, lighting candles and placing flowers in a vigil for the victims of the attacks.

Many cities around the world illuminated their landmarks in the colours of the Belgian flag in a show of solidarity.

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