Explosions at Brussels Zaventem Airport

[summer]

There must be more people. They found an unexploded suicide belt and at least one gun at the airport.

[NewOrleans]

Oh no. Terrible.

[swank]

I read in addition to the packages they suspect a suicide bomber.

[NewOrleans]

Mar 22, 2016 6:25:04 GMT -5 summer said:

Mar 22, 2016 6:13:41 GMT -5 secretlyevil said:

NBC is reporting 15 dead and 55 injured. summer summed up my feelings pretty clearly. What kind of state does a person have to be in to willingly blow up themselves and innocent people?

I watched Jihadist Next Door a month ago and pretty much gave up on everything. There is nothing you can do with these people. 

I favor killing them all.  

I admit  it I have no idea how that works.

but that's my favorite plan because letting them live isn't working, either.

[summer]

They are evacuating one of the nuclear power plants. No no no

[darnkatz]

Mar 22, 2016 8:19:02 GMT -5 summer said:

They are evacuating one of the nuclear power plants. No no no

I feel sick to my stomach.

[bugandbibs]

Just woke up to this and I literally feel sick. Nothing's working and I don't see this culture of terror ever going away. There is so much hate on every side.

My heart hurts for everyone.

[summer]

in.reuters.com/article/belgiums-tihange-nuclear-power-plant-eva-idINL5N16U3XE

[gigem]

Mar 22, 2016 7:22:48 GMT -5 scout8 said:

Mar 22, 2016 6:57:17 GMT -5 tres3 said:

When we traveled out of Nairobi last fall we had to have our bags scanned before we could even enter the departure area. I bet that's the direction we are headed now. Then we had to get scanned again to get to the gate and then BA did another round of scanning at the actual gate.

I can't remember where, but I know I have been at a few airports where you had to get your luggage scanned before entering the airport. I think that is what is going to start happening everywhere. I actually thought about it when I was going through O'Hare a few days ago. We are all packed in the security line and everyone with a large carry on bag. I was thinking it would be a great place for an attack. 

when we were living in nigeria they would first go through all our luggage by hand before checking in, then put it all through a scanner after checking in, then security for hand luggage with an xray, and finally before boarding the plan another by hand search of hang luggage. 

[gigem]

Mar 22, 2016 7:37:01 GMT -5 suzyp said:

I'm so pissed. My friend was at the airport 40 feet from the explosions. He and his friend are completely fine. But he jumped on top of her when the explosions happened. Thank goodness for Facebook.

I fucking hate these people

i am glad your friends are okay, how terrifying- i cannot even imagine, i cant even think of a word to describe how that must have felt being there 

[secretlyevil]

Mar 22, 2016 7:40:23 GMT -5 suzyp said:

The last thing I care about this morning is that trump would torture these people. Jesus GMA

The Today Show had Trump on earlier. What were the first words out of his mouth? Not "my thoughts are with Brussels" or "I am praying for Brussels." They were something very similar to, "I am an expert and that's why I am leading in the polls."

[secretlyevil]

Mar 22, 2016 8:19:02 GMT -5 summer said:

They are evacuating one of the nuclear power plants. No no no

Oh no.

[ttt]

Mar 22, 2016 8:22:05 GMT -5 summer said:

in.reuters.com/article/belgiums-tihange-nuclear-power-plant-eva-idINL5N16U3XE

I read that they're just sending non-essential personnel home, so not an actual evacuation. Security clamp down but no evidence of any direct or immediate threat. 

[bimbi284]

Omg. My brother was supposed to travel to Belgium this week, so I've been panicking the last hour trying to contact him after seeing this thread.

Turns out he got his cities confused and is actually going to Sweden.

What a relief.

[darnkatz]

Mar 22, 2016 8:24:21 GMT -5 gigem said:

Mar 22, 2016 7:22:48 GMT -5 scout8 said:

I can't remember where, but I know I have been at a few airports where you had to get your luggage scanned before entering the airport. I think that is what is going to start happening everywhere. I actually thought about it when I was going through O'Hare a few days ago. We are all packed in the security line and everyone with a large carry on bag. I was thinking it would be a great place for an attack. 

when we were living in nigeria they would first go through all our luggage by hand before checking in, then put it all through a scanner after checking in, then security for hand luggage with an xray, and finally before boarding the plan another by hand search of hang luggage. 

I'm starting to be okay with this kind of security, I think. 

[eclaires]

Ted Cruz is batshit.

He also has a weird sighing tic he does when he's asked a question.

[bimbi284]

This is all just so horrifying. I hate this shit.

[pixy0stix]

Mar 22, 2016 8:51:40 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Turns out he got his cities confused and is actually going to Sweden.

I'm sorry, but this made me smile.

[Linie]

Mar 22, 2016 7:06:05 GMT -5 rupertpenny said:

Also, Linie are you ok?

Thank you for checking up. Yes, I'm fine. My friends are family are fine.

I'm at the office today, but we will close tomorrow. We will see what will happen in the coming days...

It feels unreal but scary at the same time.

[pixy0stix]

I hate election years because all the fucking nutbags get to respond to this on tv.

I'm so sad for everyone involved.

[twotrue]

I can't believe this is what I'm waking up to. The depths of evil in this world continue to shock me.

[nikki25]

Obama is speaking live from Cuba.

[Linie]

At this moment, there are 34 casualties (20 in the metro, 14 at the airport). Many more are injured. Two suicide bombers are dead.

The entire country is on security level 4 (since November it was level 3) and this is the reason why the nuclear plants are running with minimum staff.

The attacks were not aimed at the American Airline desk, it appears.

The news as reported in newspapers is not very accurate. There were 2 explosions this afternoon (1 at the airport, 1 in the metro station), but those were carried out by bomb squats.

Public transportation is stopped, shopping malls are closed, schools will probably be closed tomorrow.

It's terrible

[NewOrleans]

Mar 22, 2016 9:22:09 GMT -5 Linie said:

At this moment, there are 34 casualties (20 in the metro, 14 at the airport). Many more are injured. Two suicide bombers are dead.

The entire country is on security level 4 (since November it was level 3) and this is the reason why the nuclear plants are running with minimum staff.

The attacks were not aimed at the American Airline desk, it appears.

The news as reported in newspapers is not very accurate. There were 2 explosions this afternoon (1 at the airport, 1 in the metro station), but those were carried out by bomb squats.

Public transportation is stopped, shopping malls are closed, schools will probably be closed tomorrow.

It's terrible

I assume you are in Belgium. I stand with you.

If you are aware of ways we can help from overseas (places to donate), please post for us.

[bimbi284]

Mar 22, 2016 9:10:18 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Mar 22, 2016 8:51:40 GMT -5 bimbi284 said:

Turns out he got his cities confused and is actually going to Sweden.

I'm sorry, but this made me smile.

Yeah, classic brother. He's a bit...disorganized to say the least. 

His words were, "Not going to Belgium...I thought [city] was there...it is, in fact, in Sweden.  -_-

[biscoffcookies]

Mar 22, 2016 7:22:48 GMT -5 scout8 said:

Mar 22, 2016 6:57:17 GMT -5 tres3 said:

When we traveled out of Nairobi last fall we had to have our bags scanned before we could even enter the departure area. I bet that's the direction we are headed now. Then we had to get scanned again to get to the gate and then BA did another round of scanning at the actual gate.

I can't remember where, but I know I have been at a few airports where you had to get your luggage scanned before entering the airport. I think that is what is going to start happening everywhere. I actually thought about it when I was going through O'Hare a few days ago. We are all packed in the security line and everyone with a large carry on bag. I was thinking it would be a great place for an attack. 

But won't there always be this problem?  If you move the security checkpoint to outside the airport, then there will be a big line of people (with both carry-on and checked luggage) there.  I understand the instinct to try to expand the security perimeter, but the security check will always be a chokepoint.  The only way to fix it is to drastically expand the number of security lanes to minimize lines.

[Linie]

Mar 22, 2016 9:26:36 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Mar 22, 2016 9:22:09 GMT -5 Linie said:

At this moment, there are 34 casualties (20 in the metro, 14 at the airport). Many more are injured. Two suicide bombers are dead.

The entire country is on security level 4 (since November it was level 3) and this is the reason why the nuclear plants are running with minimum staff.

The attacks were not aimed at the American Airline desk, it appears.

The news as reported in newspapers is not very accurate. There were 2 explosions this afternoon (1 at the airport, 1 in the metro station), but those were carried out by bomb squats.

Public transportation is stopped, shopping malls are closed, schools will probably be closed tomorrow.

It's terrible

I assume you are in Belgium. I stand with you.

If you are aware of ways we can help from overseas (places to donate), please post for us.

Yes, I live and work here. I do not think that help is needed now. There was a demand to give blood, but there is sufficient blood now.

Thank you for your thoughts and support

[mouse]

Mar 22, 2016 8:29:27 GMT -5 @bunnybean said:

God damn, if this keeps up, it's going to be nationalists across the board in Europe. What will become of the poor refugees.

That's part of their goal, isn't it? Keep the refugees scared, isolated, and dependent on their networks.

And it works. It fucking works. You get two terrified populations and push more people into becoming the next terrorists.

[teflepi]

They are now evacuating a nuclear plant-breaking on CNN

[Linie]

Mar 22, 2016 10:03:21 GMT -5 teflepi said:

They are now evacuating a nuclear plant-breaking on CNN

That is an automatic consequence of raising the security level to 4 - highest level.

Some news coverage is incorrect and only creating more stress