A suicide bomber detonated his device in departure hall of Brussels Zaventem airport, causing multiple deaths and many injuries, and a second blast struck Maalbeek Metro station in the capital shortly afterwards. The Belga agency said shots were fired and there were shouts in Arabic shortly before the blasts at the airport. Pictures show smoke rising from the terminal building through shattered windows and passengers running away, many hauling their luggage.

Brussels airport
Injured people are seen at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels, Belgium David Crunelle/ Reuters
Brussels airport
Injured people are seen at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels, Belgium David Crunelle/ Reuters
Brussels explosions
Broken windows seen at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels Reuters
Brussels explosions
Smoke is seen rising from the Brussels airport following explosions Reuters
Brussels attacks
A photo of the scene at Brussels Airport in Zaventem Jef Versele
brussels attacks
An injured man lies at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels Reuters
Brussels attacks
Injured people are seen at the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels Reuters
Brussels explosions
A man with blood stains on his sweater leaves Brussels airport in Zaventem Dirk Waem/ AFP
Brussels airport
People wrapped in blankets leave the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels Francois Lenoir/ Reuters
Brussels attacks
Passengers and airport staff sit on the pavement near Zaventem, following its evacuation John Thys/AFP
Brussels explosions
Smoke rises from the Maalbeek underground in Brussels, following a blast at the station close to the capital's European quarter Seppe Knapen/AFP
brussels metro
Passengers walk on underground metro tracks to be evacuated after an explosion at Maelbeek train station in Brussels, Belgium @OSOSXE/ Reuters
brussels metro
Passengers walk on underground metro tracks to be evacuated after an explosion at Maelbeek train station in Brussels, Belgium @OSOSXE/ Reuters
Brussels attacks
A private security guard helps a wounded women outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussel Michael Villa/AFP
Brussels explosions
Rescue teams evacuate wounded people outside the Maalbeek metro station in Brussels AFP
Brussels explosions
A victim receives first aid near Maalbeek metro station Emmanuel Dunand/AFP
Brussels explosions
Firefighters arrive at a security perimeter set in the Rue de la Loi near the Maalbeek subway station Laurie Dieffembacq/ AFP

The Metro station hit by the explosion was close to European Union institutions. Authorities closed all metro stations in Brussels.

The blasts at the airport and Metro station occurred four days after the arrest in Brussels of a suspected participant in November militant attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. Belgian police had been on alert for any reprisal action.

Attentats à #Bruxelles "Le Roi et la Reine sont choqués par les événements" (Palais) https://t.co/V63LyIO0R3 pic.twitter.com/S9EPFHbCQc

— lalibre.be (@lalibrebe) March 22, 2016

Notre metro bien connu... Image choquante de #maelbeek ... pic.twitter.com/XhgB71RM0P

— ᴀʟxᴅᴍ (@alxdm) March 22, 2016

Feared death toll of #Brussels explosions increased, as reports claim 21 or 23 people killedhttps://t.co/N3WEKvbiiV pic.twitter.com/2YRYkVLz4A

— TRACterrorism.org (@TRACterrorism) March 22, 2016

Flags being put at half mast outside European Commission. #brussels pic.twitter.com/QAQCNgjUbu

— Imelda Flattery (@Imeldaflattery) March 22, 2016

The Maelbeek metro attack is around 350m from where EU leaders meet for summits in Brussels pic.twitter.com/uncVsxOBoS

— Alex Barker (@alexebarker) March 22, 2016

Brussels explosions LIVE: Multiple deaths after blasts at Zaventem airport and Maalbeek metro

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