Blast on Brussels metro near EU buildings, system ordered closed

An explosion occurred Tuesday at a metro station in Brussels close to the European Union's institutions in the Belgian capital, subway staff told AFP.

The blast occurred shortly after 0800 GMT, in the morning rush hour, at Maalbeek station.

TV images showed black smoke billowing from the station entrance.

The metro operator later said the service was being closed down.

The incident occurred shortly after twin blasts at the city's airport, killing at least one person, according to an early toll, and the Belgian authorities raised the country's terrorism alert from three to the maximum four.