I work at the USEF offices near the EC complex. Decided to go there by bus this morning from Brussels Central and I'm glad I did that, or I would have been in the chaos at Schumann.

The entire area was first locked down, then evacuated. Trains don't run, lots of military and police in the street, hitched a ride with a colleague so I got home quite easily. (Rotterdam)

Not an expert, but I think the problem is that airports don't have security checks at the airport's main gates. They only scan you once you go past the customs and deposit your luggage. Those who aren't travelling don't get checked.

So anyone can enter the departure lounge and cause trouble.

Ah, I stand corrected!

I have no words of wisdom but can only had my greatest sympathies for the people of Belgium. Such terrible news to wake up.

Some airports already have additional security before entering any part of the building. Ataturk is one of them and Ben-Gurion has a security check before even approaching the airport building.

I am so sad for all the Belgian people, and everyone else affected by this terrible tragedy.

Terrible. Sympathy to those in Brussels and all of western Europe. Will be on my way to Netherlands and Belgium two weeks from today. Terrorists will not stop me, but this is incredibly sobering.

"but I think the problem is that airports don't have security checks at the airport's main gates."

If they did, the queue from the tube station or car park would become the new points of vulnerability: open to attack both from suicide-bombing pedestrians and from drive-by terrorists with machine guns - and far tougher to defend than the slightly more protected airport interiors.

I never know what to say on threads like this. I would like to add my voice to those who have expressed their sympathy and sadness for today's victims and their families. Someone upthread used the phrase "sick at heart." That expresses it well, for me.

And I'm relieved to hear Whathello is okay. I hope you can get home soon.

Thanks again for all your messages, personally or towards Belgium.
Good of you Menachem !!!

All thoughts are on those who are struggling to stay alive and for those who are already dead...

Some words about what I heard from 'normal' people living in the chaos of today - we are all glad when our loved ones are safe, but it must have been a world of chaos.

I have a friend who works at CE, she was evacuated and left on the street in front of the metro station Maelbeck - not sure it was a great application of a sound safety policy. Of course she couldn't access her car and she was without her jacket - walked 30 min to find a solution - hope she drank a grog.

My daughter's university was closed but I don't know if they were allowed to evacuate. My other daughter's school cancelled all recreational activities and forbid from now on to enter the campus with a car to drop the children.

One colleague arrived in Bxl midi just after the attacks, his car was unavailable (rentals were closed) and he didn't want to wait for at least half an hour for a taxi, surrounded by military, police - all quite stressed, in full gear among children crying. He also walked 30 min before finding another rental, took his car, and went back to Paris since all meetings have been cancelled - clearly impossible to work in Belgium today.

My battalion's motto is 'Versage ni' : never give up.

Security at the gates of the airport wouldn't help with the metro bombing, which killed and injured more people.

No matter where you are if there is a group of people they are a potential target sadly.

Saddam didn't have weapons of mass destruction, but those taking over in the chaos that was left behind have a never ending supply of weapons of mass destruction in the form of suicide bombers.

Actually it's already being considered. Check out this article.

"Passengers could face bag checks on the doors and 'profilers' hiding among the crowds after Brussels terror attack in terminal kills 14"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-kills-14.html

Yes you could put screening devices and personnel at every metro and train entrance in Europe- at the cost of billions of dollars but the terrorists would just hit another spot - like that music hall in Paris or the Jewish supermarket, etc.

Just not practical and would not stop the attacks just move them elsewhere - only way to stop this is 1 - eliminate ISIS as a threat or 23- give into ISIS and removed all aid to fighting them - declaring that ISIS wins the war - will never happen so # 1 is the only resort - it would take thousands or troops from dozens of countries and would still only chase ISIS types underground - a tough nut to crack for sure - only time will resolve this.

That said it seems to be an easy thing to move airport security to outside the airport entrance doors.

Trains and metros however just cannot be protected IMO.

So glad that all here seem to be safe but for the others killed or injured in this no words are enough.

I was surprised at airports in parts of Asia to have my bags scanned just inside the doors of terminals on entry, always wondered why, instead of (or in addition to) after check-in. It now seems obvious.

Just an unspeakable act. Feeling awful for Belgium. Glad you are okay Whathello and hope you get safely home soon.

Long ago I was in Brussels when the king died and the papers had a big drawing on the Mannequis Pis crying - can see such a drawing appearing again, sadly.

It isn't an easy thing to move security outside. You would end up with huge queues outside, just as easy a target as when it is inside. You would still have to provide some sort of hall for people to be in, you couldn't expect everyone to wait outside in the rain snow or cold. Can you imagine standing outside waiting to clear security in a north American winter?

It needs more Muslims to stand up and say "Not in our Name", it needs more investment in the disaffected youth, Muslim or otherwise, it needs less investment in countries such as Saudi Arabia, less arms manufacturing, less arms deals to dodgy regimes. It needs a united front by the West, Russia and especially China, who only see a profit in it all and sell to the highest bidder regardless.
Carpet bombing won't help - most of the bombers are home grown, and will see such attacks as attacks on Islam and encourage more moderate Muslims to radicalise, as has already happened with Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

I don't now what the future holds for Europe. I worry about the future of my children and especially my grandchildren. We are condemned if we do nothing, we are damned if we do something. Same as with the influx of migrants, who ultimately add to the ISIS WMD supply here, because they come expecting streets paved with gold, jobs for the taking and empty homes waiting to be filled.

Same as with the influx of migrants, who ultimately add to the ISIS WMD supply here, because they come expecting streets paved with gold, jobs for the taking and empty homes waiting to be filled.>>

not to mention the radicalisation of those who are sent back as not qualifying as refugees.

Menachem - glad to hear you got home safely!

My husband works for a company that is headquartered in Antwerp. I was wondering if anyone there was affected, and I just learned that the president of his division landed at Brussels today. He landed at about the time everything was going on. He was OK bc he was on the plane - but he doesn't have his luggage (and doesn't know where it is). What's kind of scary is that he didn't have to go through customs – he said everyone just kind of wandered off. He lives in Antwerp, so he knew his way around. But I can't imagine someone not familiar with the airport or city having to find their way around amid all that chaos.