Explosions at Brussels airport and metro station kill dozens

• Death toll climbs to 28 in attacks on Brussels airport and metro station.
• Dozens injured in what prosecutors say was a suicide bombing.
• All public transport shut down in Brussels.
• Authorities launch massive police operation.

Two explosions occurred at Zaventem Airport and another ripped through Maelbeek metro station in Brussels this morning. 

The prosecutor's office told Belgian newspaper Le Soir that at least 13 people died and 35 were injured at the airport.

The RTBF reports that 15 people died and that 10 people were seriously injured in the explosion in the Maelenbeek according to the Brussels transport operator STIB.

Belgium's federal prosecutor said that the explosion at the airport was caused by a suicide bomber, RTBF reports. 

Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel, said at a press conference that "What we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks. We know there are many dead, many injured."

The explosions at the airport originated near the American Airlines check-in desk at around 8 am local time (3 am EST), according to Sky News. Smoke was seen rising from the airport. There was also video on Twitter of people fleeing. 

Around 9 am local time, an explosion was reported in the Maelbeek metro station in Brussels, in the heart of Belgium’s government district near the European Council and European Parliament building.

Evan Lamos, a freelance video and media worker, was on a train heading into Brussels right before the blast at the metro station. "On the Metro between Schuman and Maelbeek. We have just been stopped due to an 'incident on the line'. Can hear soft thudding in distance," he tweeted. 

"We felt a blast of air and my ears popped shortly after leaving Schuman station. The Metro stopped immediately," he added.

He took this video of the train being evacuated in the dark after the explosion:

"Can still hear soft thudding in the distance," Lamos said, before he was evacuated through a smoke-filled tunnel.

At the airport, people began sharing video and photos of the survivors on social media while they were still inside.

All metro stations in Brussels have now been closed, and no buses, metros or trams are running anymore. 

Reuters reports that the main rail stations in Brussels are now closed and Eurostar confirmed that no trains are currently running to or from Brussels Midi. 

The blasts come four days after police in Brussels captured Salah Abdeslam, the main remaining suspect in the Paris attacks in November.

There was footage on Twitter from inside the airport:

Sky News reporter Alex Rossi was at the airport's duty-free shop when the explosions happened.

He said: "I could feel the building move. There was also dust and smoke as well. I went towards where the explosion came from and there were people coming out looking very dazed and shocked."

The Belgian news agency Belga reported that shots were fired and that there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the explosion.

Belgian Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, announced that terror levels are at maximum level following the two explosions and said that their absolute priority were the people still at the airport. 

Brussels airport confirmed that there had been two explosions, and said that all flights had been cancelled. No trains to and from the airport are running anymore. 

AFP reports that security at Paris train stations, metros and airports has been reinforced. Belgians were warned to stay at home and to not make phonecalls as the network was being saturated with calls. 

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