ISIL claims responsibility for Brussels attacks

Terrorist organisation ISIL has claimed responsibility for the Brussels attacks in a statement issued on the ISIL-linked Amaq agency. The attacks which involved suicide bombers bombing both Brussels international airport and the city metro station, left 31 people dead and dozens injured. The country has raised its terrorism alert to its highest level and has declared three days of national morning. Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel called the latest attacks ‘blind, violent and cowardly’, adding ’this is a day of tragedy, a black day... I would like to call on everyone to show calmness and solidarity.’ European Council President Donald Tusk said: "These attacks mark another low by the terrorists in the service of hatred and violence." Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the attacks as ‘appalling and savage’ and announced extra patrols will operate across ports, airports, tube stations and major railway stations. He said: “These are appalling and savage terrorist attacks and I've just spoken to the prime minister of Belgium to give our sympathies and our condolences to the Belgian people. "They could just as well be attacks in Britain or in France or Germany, or elsewhere in Europe and we need to stand together against these appalling terrorists and make sure they can never win."