Brussels’ largest railway hub, Midi station, was evacuated on Monday afternoon after police discovered suspicious bags, causing widespread disruption to all train traffic.
The incident occurred just one day after the tenth anniversary of deadly terror attacks in the Belgian capital.
A police spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the station was closed following the discovery of one suspicious bag inside a train and another on a platform.
Officers, supported by an anti-explosive army squad, were dispatched to investigate the items.
The closure brought significant parts of the Belgian capital’s rail network to a standstill.
Vincent Bayer, a spokesperson for state-owned railway operator SNCB, told Reuters that no trains had arrived at or departed from Midi station, a crucial high-speed connection point for routes to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Germany, since approximately 5.30pm (1630 GMT). The adjacent Midi metro station was also shut down.
SNCB stated on its website: “The duration of the disruption is still undetermined. We are waiting for additional information from the police forces.”
The incident comes as Brussels remains sensitive to security threats, with commemorations held on Sunday for the victims of the 22 March 2016 coordinated bombings by Islamic State militants at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station.