ISIS Threatens UK with 'Harder and More Bitter' Attacks than Brussels as Armed Police Take to Britain's Streets After Terror Group Claims Responsibility for Bombings
Islamic State have claimed responsibility for the Brussels bombings today
Terrorist group described how its 'soldiers' carried out the attacks
At least 34 people have been killed and many more have been left injured
It is has now threatened to hit the UK with a 'harder and more bitter' attack
Britain has ramped up security across the country with armed officers
Martin Robinson, UK Chief Reporter For Mailonline, 22 March 2016
ISIS has threatened to hit the UK 'harder and more bitter attacks' after claiming responsibility for the Brussels bombings today.
Britain has ramped up security with armed officers taking to the streets near major landmarks, train stations and airports.
The heightened police presence comes after at least 34 people were killed and many more left injured in a series of bomb attacks inside an airport terminal and Metro station in the Belgian capital.
The explosions come just a day after the Belgium Interior Minister warned of possible revenge attacks after the arrest of Paris massacre suspect Salah Abdeslam in the city last week.
Pictured are the chaotic scenes at Brussels Airport after two explosions inside the terminal earlier today
Armed British police officers stand on duty outside the entrance to the Houses of Parliament in London today
In London: Armed officers make their way through the Eurostar terminal at St Pancras station. There was an increased security presence at transport hubs across the city
An armed policeman on duty in Downing Street, in London, today following Brussels bomb attacks
Armed police at the entrance to the Eurostar at St Pancras Station in London. Journeys to Brussels were disrupted and terminated in Lille in France after this morning's terrorist attacks
Security levels at British airports, railways stations, at the borders and on city streets have been increased following the explosions in the departure hall of Zaventem Airport and on the metro system in Brussels. Pictured is an armed officer in Central London
Armed police officers in central London after the terrorist attacks in Brussels earlier today
A soldier walks through debris after two explosions rocked a terminal building at Brussels Airport
A person is carried to safety as troops helped the injured and secured the area after the explosions in the terminal building
And through the terrorist group's official Telegram account, a statement read:
'We promise to the states that are allied against the Islamic State that they will face dark days in return for their aggression against our state.
'And what will await you will become harder and more bitter through the grace of Allah.
'In praise of Allah who has made our blows precise and helped us succeed. we demand for him to accept our brothers among the martyrs.'
A major manhunt is underway for an ISIS suspect in a white coat and black hat who fled Brussels Airport after the two explosions ripped through the terminal in a suicide bomb attack this morning, killing 14 people and injuring dozens of others.
Police issued a wanted notice for the man who was seen on CCTV pushing a luggage trolley through the check-in area with two other suspects minutes before the blasts.
His alleged accomplices were wearing black gloves on their left hands, which security sources say would have hidden the triggers for their explosive vests.
The two men blew themselves up while the third suspect is believed to have left a nail bomb and fled, according to De Standaard.
It is not known if the fugitive then sped to Maelbeek station to carry out the blast that killed 20 people in a subway train just 79 minutes later.
First picture: These three men, pretending to be air passengers, are believed to the terrorists who have carried out the Brussels airport. The two suspected suicide bombers on the left were both wearing black gloves - which the Belgian media says would have hidden the triggers for their explosive vests. The third suspect in the hat is believed to still be on the run after dropping his nail bomb
Alphonse Youla, who was working on a stand at the airport putting security wrapping around suitcases, said: 'I heard a man shout some Arabic words then an explosion.. then a second explosion, a massive explosion, much bigger.
'It was a horror. I saw at least seven people dead. There was blood. People had lost legs. You could see their bodies but no legs.'
Belgian Prosecutor Eric van der Sypt confirmed two bombers died at Brussels airport and said a third is being 'actively' sought. Raids are currently being carried out across the country.
Anti-police terror police swooped on a number of suspects in the hours after the attacks as the Belgian Foreign Ministry said many of those behind the terror plot are 'still at large'.
Two blasts detonated near check-in desks at Brussels Airport at 8am (7am GMT) in a suspected suicide bombing
The ISIS (file photo) statement described how its 'soldiers' allegedly carried out the attacks this morning
At least two people in Brussels were arrested outside the city's North railway station, a mile from the Maelbeek subway.
A third suspect has been arrested on a train near Amsterdam and a suspect package at Gard du Nord in Paris delayed Eurostar services this afternoon.
Another man was also taken into custody at by armed police at Brussels South railway station near the suburb of Schaerbeek.
MailOnline revealed earlier today that security services already had CCTV of one of the Brussels airport bombers including the moment he detonated his suicide belt.
Surrounded: Two men on their knees with hands on their head are held in Brussels as the authorities
Drama: Two men were pinned to the ground by armed police and special forces as the hunt for members of the terror cell behind today's bombings in Brussels started
Interventions: The arrests came as the authorities start to round up any people deemed a risk to the public, including here at Brussels North station - a mile from the Maelbeek bombing
Across the border: A suspect with his hands up is arrested as he is taken off a train because of suspicious activity at Hoofddorp Station in Amsterdam
Quote:
TERROR TIME LINE: THREE BOMB BLASTS IN BRUSSELS IN JUST 79 MINUTES
8am: Shots heard at Zaventem international airport before someone shouted in Arabic and two explosions rocked the departure hall
8am onwards: Terrified passengers seen streaming out of the terminal while flights are diverted
8.30am: Witnesses describe blasts so powerful victims were thrown in to the air, Airport is closed
9.19am: A third bomb blast rips through Maalbeek Metro station killing 20 more people
9.30am: Belgium moves to its highest level of terror alert
10am: The European Commission tells staff to stay home or in their offices
10.30am: The crisis centre asks residents to stay put, and all public transport systems close down
10.30am: Security reinforced in airports, train stations and public transport systems in Paris while airports in Frankfurt, London, Moscow and the Netherlands
11am: Two suspects arrested one mile away from Metro Station blast
11.15am: Police and soldiers reinforce security around Belgium's nuclear power plants.
12pm: A Kalashnikov and unexploded suicide bomb vest are found in the rubble at the airport
12pm: Belgian prosecutors confirm that the three explosions were terror attacks
1.50pm: Dutch Police stop international train from Brussels to Amsterdam at a station just one stop from Holland's Schiphol Airport as a precaution and search the train and its passengers
3pm: Belgian TV station reports at least one of the bombs at the Brussels airport contained nails
4.40pm: ISIS ISIS group claimed responsibility for the attacks in Brussels
|
UPDATE:
A third bomb has been found in Brussels, and has been destroyed by security forces
.