Belgium observes minutes silence one year after Brussels attack

Belgian leaders, victims and families of those who died in suicide bombings on Brussels Airport and subway last year are marking the first anniversary of the attacks, which killed 32 people and injured 320.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde joined the prime minister Charles Michel at the airport, where two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the departure hall during the morning peak travel period on March 22 last year.

A minute’s silence at 7:58 a.m. marked the moment the first bomb at the airport was detonated. Victims and their families, politicians, emergency services and airport employees attended the ceremony. All airport activity was suspended.

The royals and government representatives then arrived by metro at Maalbeek station, the site of the second bombing, and laid a wreath at a commemoration wall. At 9:11 a.m., the exact time of the explosion, all employees of the Brussels transport network held a “moment of noise,” applauding in memory of the victims of the attacks.

The names of those who died were read out solemnly, accompanied by a single cello.

Inside the departure hall, a large wreath lay in a cordoned-off area.

A memorial by artist Jean-Henri Compere was then unveiled near the Schuman roundabout, Politico reported.

Sixteen people died after two bombs exploded in the airport’s departure hall last year. Another sixteen were killed by a separate terror attack at the metro station in the EU area of the Belgian capital. More than 300 people were left injured after both attacks.