BRUSSELS, March 23 – Railway operations came to a complete halt in Belgium’s capital Monday evening after authorities discovered suspicious packages at Brussels Midi station, prompting an immediate evacuation of the transportation hub.
Law enforcement officials found two concerning items – one inside a train car and another located on a station platform, according to a police spokesperson who spoke with reporters.
Bomb disposal experts from the military joined police investigators in examining the packages, though officials declined to provide additional details about the ongoing operation.
The closure brought rail service to a standstill across Brussels, with no trains entering or departing the facility since approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, confirmed Vincent Bayer, a spokesperson for Belgium’s national railway company SNCB.
Brussels Midi serves as the primary transportation center connecting the Belgian capital to major European cities including Paris, London, Amsterdam and destinations throughout Germany. The adjacent metro station was also shuttered during the security response.
Railway officials acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding service restoration, stating on their website: “The duration of the disruption is still undetermined. We are waiting for additional information from the police forces.”
The security incident came just 24 hours after Belgium observed the tenth anniversary of coordinated bombings that claimed dozens of lives at Brussels Airport and the Maalbeek metro station. Islamic State operatives carried out those attacks on March 22, 2016, and King Philippe joined other senior officials Sunday in honoring the victims during memorial ceremonies at both locations.
