At least 31 people have died and several people injured after explosions rocked Brussels Airport and a metro station in a suspected terror attack. Witnesses said they ‘felt the shockwaves‘ of the blasts which are believed to have centred on the American Airlines check-in desk at 8am (7am GMT).

Photographs from inside the arrivals hall showed the floor was covered in fallen roof tiles and dust as bloodied people hobbled out of the airport. Others injured were photographed lying on the floor.

Video also shows terrified passengers running for their lives out of the terminal.

In the aftermath of the explosions thousands of people waiting for flights this morning were penned inside the terminal as police sealed off the shattered arrivals hall. People already checked-in were then slowly evacuated through emergency exits – but were told to leave all their hand luggage as police checked bags for more explosives.

Armed police in protective clothing combed the building for more wounded travellers and suspicious bags. All flights are being diverted from the airport this morning as it remains on lockdown. Flights due to land at Brussels-Zaventem, which handles 21million passengers a year, were sent to Antwerp, Liege, and Brussels Charleroi airports.

The incident came as the Belgian capital was on a state of high alert following the arrest of Paris terror attack suspect Salah Abdeslam in the city last week. Belgium’s Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, said the country was on high alert for a possible revenge attack following the capture of 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam in a flat in Brussels on Friday.

France is seeking Abdeslam’s extradition so he can stand trial for his alleged role in the November 13 rampage of gunfire and suicide bombings that killed 130 people in Paris.

Belgium is under great tension, with its federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw saying yesterday that last year the country worked on 315 new anti-terror cases and nearly 60 so far this year. Indeed, many witnesses at Brussels Airport today immediately jumped to the conclusion that there had been a terrorist attack, which reflects the nature of the country.

There was also an explosion at a Brussels metro station increasing fears that the city is under a terror attack following the two blasts at Brussels Airport this morning.

source: Daily Mail 

Alex Ferguson retires: Manchester United boss to step down

Alex Ferguson will leave his role as Manchester United boss at the end of the season. Manchester United have confirmed Alex Ferguson will retire at the end of the season. Fergie, 71, walks away from Old Trafford having secured United’s 13th Premier League title. 

The Scot said: “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time. It was important to me to leave an organization in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so.”

The quality of this league-winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one. “Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world.

“Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both director and ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future."

source: thesun.co.uk

to retire – nyugdíjba vonulni
to step down – visszalépni
role – szerep(kör)
to confirm – alátámasztani, igazolni
to secure – biztosítani
to take lightly – könnyelműen venni
squad – brigád, osztag, szakasz
balance – egyensúly
to bode well  – jót jelenteni
continued success – folytatólagos siker
whilst – míg
youth – ifjúság(i)
set-up – felállás
to ensure – biztosítani
long-term – hosszútávú
to remain – maradni
bright – fényes
rightfully – jogosan
to regard as  – tekinteni valaminek
leading venue – vezető helyszín