A manhunt has been launched for one of the terrorists behind coordinated bombings in Brussels which left 34 dead and almost 200 injured.
As a series of police raids were mounted across Belgium, prosecutor Eric van der Sypt said two suicide bombers died in the attack on the main airport in Brussels and a third was being “actively” sought.
Belgian police issued an image of the man, one of three seen pushing luggage trolleys through Zaventem Airport moments before two bombs exploded.
A third bomb was deactivated at the airport hours after the attack.
In a statement, Belgian police appealed for information about the man, who is wearing a hat and a light-coloured jacket.
“Police are looking to identify this man. He is suspected of having committed the attack at Zaventem on Tuesday March 22,” it said.
“If you recognise this individual or have information regarding this attack please call 0800 30 300.”
The airport attack was followed by a bomb blast on a Metro train in the city centre as terrorists inflicted a new outrage on a European capital.
Mr Van Leeuw said: “A photo of three suspects was taken at Brussels airport.
“Two of them have probably committed a suicide attack, the third – dressed in a white jacket and wearing a hat – is actively sought.”
The prosecutor added: “Various departments and experts are currently in various crime scenes. This will take place for many hours to come.
“Due to the violence of the attacks, this investigation is particularly difficult.
“Various operations are ongoing across the country and several witnesses have been heard.
“Federal magistrates supported by magistrates from our organisation are present in various strategic and operational points as well as in the government’s crisis centres in order to coordinate operations.
“Several explosions have been heard. They are due to bomb squad activity upon the discovery that the suspects might have left explosives behind. And this could continue.”
The attacks left a major city in lockdown once again less than five months after Paris was hit by a wave of deadly strikes.
The atrocities on Tuesday, condemned as “blind, violent and cowardly” by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, came after the arrest last week of terror mastermind Salah Abdeslam, who plotted November’s massacre in the French capital.
The terror group Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the Brussels attacks.
Security was being stepped up at major transport hubs around the continent, with British police forces boosting numbers at “key locations” including ports, airports and the rail network.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: “We are at war. In Europe we have been subjected to acts of war for several months.”
As the city went into lockdown:
Local media reported that 20 people were killed following the blast at Maelbeek metro station, while 14 died in a suicide attack at the airport
The number of people injured in both attacks was believed to be 198
Two Kalashnikov rifles and an unexploded bomb belt were found at the airport after the attacks
Downing Street said one British national is known to have been injured
The UK police presence is being reinforced at ports, airports, underground stations and international railway stations as a precaution
First news of the attacks came when the airport was rocked by a double blast around 7am UK time. The attack on the Metro came about an hour later.
Jef Versele, 40, from Ghent, told the Press Association: “I was on my way to check in and two bombs went off – two explosions.
“I didn’t see anything. Everything was coming down. Glassware. It was chaos. It was unbelievable. It was the worst thing.”
Footage from inside the airport building showed a scene of devastation with ceiling tiles strewn across the floor and suitcases abandoned.For further coverage, see Wednesday’s CourierImages of passengers climbing from a Metro train into a smoke-filled tunnel near Maelbeek station were reminiscent of scenes following the July 7 attacks in London.
Other images showed the injured from the Metro being treated in the street, while at the airport people could be seen fleeing in terror in video footage shot from an airport car park.
As the army was deployed and the transport system was locked down, Mr Michel said: “In this tragic and dark moment for our country, more than ever I call everyone to show calm but also solidarity.
“We are faced with a challenge, a difficult challenge, and we have to face this challenge being united, showing solidarity and being together.”
International leaders united in support for Belgium, with David Cameron branding the atrocities “appalling” and US president Barack Obama condemning the “outrageous attacks against innocent people”.