BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - All train traffic was disrupted in Brussels after Midi station, the city's largest, was evacuated on Monday afternoon by police when suspicious bags were found, one day
Brussels trains disrupted after suspicious bags found at Midi station
Incident Overview and Security Response
BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - Brussels train traffic slowly resumed on Monday evening after services were disrupted by an evacuation at Midi station, the city's largest, officials said.
Evacuation and Investigation
Police had cleared the station on Monday afternoon after suspicious bags were found, a day after the tenth anniversary of deadly terror attacks.
Bomb Disposal and Safety Measures
Police and an army bomb‑disposal unit examined the bags and determined they posed no threat, said a spokesperson for Belgian railway infrastructure manager Infrabel.
Official Statements and Public Communication
"The Brussels-Midi station has been reopened after a thorough inspection of suspicious packages. During the evening rush hour, the station was evacuated as a precaution and commuters were cleared out," Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said on social media platform X.
Impact on Train and Metro Services
Most train traffic in the Belgian capital passes through Midi station, but no trains arrived or departed between roughly 5:30 p.m. (1630 GMT) and 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT), the Infrabel spokesperson said, adding disruptions would remain for the rest of the day.
Importance of Midi Station
The station is the main high-speed hub for connections between Brussels, Paris, London, Amsterdam and Germany.
The Midi metro station was also closed.
Context: Recent Terror Attack Anniversary
On March 22, 2016, coordinated bombings carried out by Islamic State militants killed dozens of people at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station. Belgian King Philippe and top authorities on Sunday paid tribute to the victims of the attack in a ceremony at the metro station and the airport.
Additional Security Measures
Also on Monday, in a separate security measure, soldiers were deployed in Brussels and other major Belgian cities to bolster security for the Jewish community, after what officials said were antisemitic attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.
(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Chris Reese)
