The deputy prime ministers were unanimous on Wednesday when arriving at the National Security Council. They agreed in congratulating the professionalism and responsiveness of the military present last night at Brussels Central Station, when an isolated terrorist incident took place. There were no casualties or fatalities.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, indicated, “We witnessed an attack which could have caused more damage. The security system implemented at level 3 operated remarkably, owing to the presence of the police and the military. We are now going to see which system, for ensuring public security, still has the appropriate scope. The concept of zero risk is not achievable.”
The Minister for the Interior, Jan Jambon, confirmed that the suspect had been identified “fairly quickly”. Jambon stressed, “The military did excellent work and the local and federal police did what they had to do, namely to protect citizens. Yesterday’s incident proved that we are prepared and that the measures we have in place are appropriate.”
He stated that “new measures are not being adopted for each event,” referring to the Coldplay concert. This will involve some 100,000 individuals in total gathering at the King Baudouin Stadium over the two nights - Wednesday and Thursday evening of this week. The King Baudouin Stadium has a capacity of a little over 50,000.
The Minister of Justice, Koen Geens, thanked the military for their courage and for completing their “job” in “exemplary fashion.”
The Brussels Times
