Off the wire
• Australia's new heavyweight boxing champion vows to fight positive drug test  • Weather forecast for major Chinese cities, regions -- March 22  • Weather forecast for world cities -- March 22  • Kenyan police nab suspected ivory smuggler, discover 39 tusks  • Roundup: Rare heat wave hits Kenya  • Copenhagen tightens security after Brussels attacks  • China to clear out foreign, bizarre geographical names  • Regional bank to partner with China to finance African projects  • Hollande heads security meeting after Brussels explosions  • 1st LD Writethru: Danish politicians express sympathy to Belgium blasts victims  
You are here: 　 Home

Australia condemns Brussels terror attacks

Xinhua, March 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop released a statement on Tuesday night, condemning "the coordinated terror attacks" in Belgium.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with the people of Belgium," she said in the statement.

Bishop said that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia is urgently seeking to determine whether any Australians have been affected.

"I understand the Belgian authorities have activated their emergency plan in response to these attacks and increased the national threat level to its maximum level."

"We have upgraded our travel advice for Belgium to advise Australian travellers to reconsider their need to travel. Australians in Brussels should remain attentive to their surroundings, avoid affected areas and follow the instructions of local authorities."

Bishop said she had already talked to Australian Ambassador Dr Mark Higgie and asked the latter to conduct an assessment of the situation and to confirm that the embassy staff and their families are safe.

At least 28 people were reportedly killed and 35 wounded in explosions at Brussels' airport and a metro station near the European Union Headquarters on Tuesday morning. The two explosions at the airport have been confirmed to be suicide bombing. Enditem