ABC: “At every service this week pray for those … in the City of Brussels”

Pictured: A passenger leaves Zaventem airport. Photograph: Virginie Lefour/AFP/Getty Images via the Guardian

Days after the arrest of the last suspect left at large after the Paris attacks last November, Brussels has been rocked by explosions. One hour ago, the Guardian updated its continuing live coverage with the words of the Belgium Prime Minister.

Belgium’s prime minister, Charles Michel, says terrorists have committed murder at the airport and the metro station.
“What we feared, has happened,” he said in a televised press conference.

He said it was too early to confirm casualty figures but said that there were “many dead, many injured”.

Michel confirmed that the attack at the airport was carried by a suicide bomber.

He also called for “calm and solidarity” after what he described as a “tragic moment”.

At the time of writing, 26 people are believed to have died, and well over 100 injured, some critically, in blasts that occurred at Brussels’ international airport, and 30 minutes later at the Maelbeek Metro station.

From around the world, reaction is coming in from politicians and public figures, some focusing on border controls and restrictions, while others took time to offer their condolences and to express European solidarity.

The Archbishop of Canterbury released a brief statement this morning.

In the great Holy Week of Christian prayer and mercy, the Brussels attacks shock all those who seek peace and justice through the terrible cruelty and utter separation from all that is of God. Once again we see the contrast between the vain efforts to terrify through indiscriminate murder, and the call of God to be those who show mercy, who seek peace and pursue it. Let us at every service this week pray for those caught up in the traumatic events at the airport and in the City of Brussels.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry responded via Twitter.