Brussels – A suspect allegedly involved in a small explosion at Brussels Central station, that authorities are now treating as an act of terrorism, has died according to the Belgian news agency Belga.
The suspect was “neutralized” by Belgian soldiers, immediately after a blast occurred at around 0830 pm local time (1830 GMT) on Tuesday evening, according to the Federal Prosecutor’s office.
“There was a smaller blast,” emanating from the individual or near the individual, Ine van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office told dpa.
An employee at the station said he stood next to the suspect, who he described as in his 30s, and having uttered the words “Allahu akbar” (God is greatest).
Nobody else was killed or injured according to the prosecutor’s office.
But the blast is reported to have caused panic among an estimated 100 people who were inside the station at the time and ran for safety.
Security services evacuated and cordoned off an area around the station, while ambulances arrived on standby.
A unit for the removal and destruction of explosive devices was also deployed to the station, according to the Twitter account of the Brussels police.
While police say the situation is “under control,” they added that there was a “possibility of a controlled explosion.”
The Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel thanked Belgium’s soldiers, security personnel and staff of the country’s railway services on Twitter “for their professionalism and their courage.”
He also announced that the National Security Council is due to convene at 0900 am local time (0700 GMT) on Wednesday morning.
Traffic at two train stations in Brussels – Brussels Central and Brussels Nord has been suspended, according to a message by the Belgian railway service SNCB on Twitter, while traffic at Brussels Midi – the largest station has resumed.
Last year, 32 civilians died following coordinated suicide attacks at Brussels airport and inside the metro.
-dpa
