Europe mourns Brussels attacks

At least 31 people died and 300 were wounded in explosions that struck two Brussels locations on Tuesday. The Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek metro station experienced explosions at the hands of four terrorists, two of whom were confirmed to be brothers and Belgian nationals. On Wednesday Brussels authorities determined that 24-year-old Najim Laachraoui, who had been linked to the November 2015 Paris attacks, was the second airport suicide bomber. The identity of the third airport bomber is unknown. Daesh claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement released via the Amaq News Agency, a group that’s been linked to the militant extremists, according to NPR. The attacks forced Brussels into lockdown until about 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Ibrahim el-Bakraoui, 29, and Laachraoui blew themselves up at Brussels airport at 7:58 a.m. that morning. A third airport attacker packed a suitcase with explosives, but it failed to go off. El-Bakraoui’s younger brother Khalid carried out the second suicide attack at the train station at 9:11 a.m. Brussels remains on high alert.

At least one of the bombs used in these attacks caused more damage and was physically more powerful than the bombs used in Paris. Its detonation blew out windows in the Zaventem Airport and shook nearby buildings, according to The New York Times.

The people of Brussels continue to mourn those wounded and lost with ceremonies and memorials throughout the city.

Hopkins has also responded to the tragedy. The American flag outside the Milton S. Eisenhower Library has been put at half-mast and many students have expressed their sympathy and support for Belgians through a number of social media sites. Although the blue jay statue that stands on the freshman quad was painted in response to the Paris attacks, the bird remained undecorated in the aftermath of Brussels.

Sophomore Heidi Woll was particularly affected by the attack because she is studying abroad in Europe.

“I’m currently studying abroad in Paris, and so three weeks ago, some friends and I took a weekend trip to Brussels. Knowing that two cities I’ve recently been able to get to know have been struck with such tragedies is painful. It’s also frightening because it’s so physically near,” Holl wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “But I insist that everybody keep up with the news when you can and read past the headlines, because Western media will definitely prioritize tragedies in the United States and Europe over anything happening in any other part of the world. My heart goes out to France and Belgium... and Syria, and Tunisia, and Turkey, and Yemen, and Egypt, and Libya, and Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia and every other country whose people have suffered at the hands of terrorism and war.”