At least 30 people were killed and dozens more were injured after explosions struck the Belgian capital Tuesday morning during rush hour.
Two bombs struck the international airport and went off at a subway station.
READ MORE: Brussels attacks: Police release photo of suspected attacker
“What we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks,” Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters during a news conference.
The so-called Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement released via the Amaq News Agency that has been linked to the militant extremists. The statement blames Belgium for participating in the fight against ISIS and says that “several” fighters detonated explosive belts at the airport and train station.
READ MORE: Why young Belgian Muslims are easy prey for extremists
“Terrorists struck Brussels, but it was Europe that was targeted — and all the world that is concerned,” said French President Francois Hollande.
According to a Belgian federal prosecutor the attacks on the Zaventem airport began around 8 a.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device near the departure gates.
WATCH: Video capture scenes of destruction at Brussels airport
Dramatic video, aired on Belgian broadcaster VRT, showed terrified travellers covered in dust while sirens could be heard blaring. Separate footage also showed collapsed ceiling panels, shattered glass windows and emergency personnel helping the injured.
The number of people killed and injured is still unclear. Earlier Tuesday, Belgian Health Minister Maggie de Block said 11 people were dead and 81 injured in twin explosions at the Brussels airport. The Brussels mayor said at least 20 people died and 106 were injured in the attack on the Maalbeek subway station, which is located near the European Union headquarters.
READ MORE: Witnesses describe bloody, chaotic scenes after airport, subway explosions
Travellers at the airport described a chaotic scene of debris and blood as the blasts left people scrambling during a busy morning rush hour commute.
“I had gone through the security checkpoint and almost at exactly 8:00 a.m. people went suddenly rushing past me coming from the security checkpoint towards the departure gates,” he said. “We had no news, we didn’t know what was going on, we didn’t know why these people were running.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders were quick to condemn the attacks in Brussels
“I was outraged when I woke up to the news that so many innocent citizens had been killed and injured — shocked and profoundly saddened,” Trudeau said on Parliament Hill.
“This cannot and will not be tolerated.”
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