the day terrorist attacks in brussels
O
n the morning of 22 March
2016, suicide bombings
occurred in the Brussels
metro and international
airport. The deadliest act of
terrorism in Belgium’s history
killed 32 people, including
15 foreigners representing
countries from all over the
world. It was a black day,
not only for Belgian citizens,
but also for the international
community working, studying
and traveling in our beloved
country. We hope that these
events will not divide society
and that we will embrace
and respect each other. Our
thoughts also go out to all
alumni living in countries
which face (terrorist) violence.
Where were you when you heard about
the attacks and what was your first
reaction?
Valeria: For almost 13 years I commuted
from Antwerp to Brussels for work. The
week of the 22/03, I was on the train when
a very good friend called around 8:50;
very worried because she had just heard
about the attacks at the airport. I started
checking the news on my phone… the
next station was Brussels North. I tried to
stay calm, to be rational and decided to go
to work as usual; but I felt scared, anxious
and I started to feel a terrible stomach
ache.
6 Exchange to change May 2016
How did you experience
the day of the terrorist
attacks in Brussels?
IOB staff, students and alumni testify
We asked Kristof Titeca (IOB lecturer), Dries Boeye (DEM alumnus, 20122013), Valeria Lemaitre (Globalisation alumna, 2000-2001), Erik Akede
Metougue (current Governance student) and Naisula Lepariyo (current
DEM student) for a short testimonial on how they experienced the day of
the attacks and how it might affect their personal or professional life.
Kristof: I had just arrived at IOB, and was
preparing to go to class. My first reaction
was see if any loved ones were hurt.
Dries: I was at home in Antwerp, preparing
to leave for work, when I heard it on the
radio and a few seconds later read it on my
smartphone. The news made me deeply
sad and bitter but not scared or shocked.
I left for work and followed the news
throughout most of the day.
Naisula: We were in class when the
attack happened, I got notification from
the BBC breaking news read ‘11 feared
dead in Brussels’. It felt like a dream that
I could not wake up from. Soon after,
the notification on the second attack
came in, and I knew Belgium was under
attack. During break we all stood outside
with fear in our eyes, no one knew the
magnitude of the attack but it was clear
we were worried.
How did you experience the day of the
attacks (22/03) and the following days?
Dries: Very intense. As a youth social
worker, I work and live every day among
underprivileged kids, teenagers and young
adults. It left none of them unaffected.
When they arrived that day I had to
answer questions ranging from “Will there
be attacks at my school?”, “How come
people are so outraged by these attacks,
and less by every day violence in Palestine,
Syria or Nigeria?” to “Can I still be a
Muslim?”.
Kristof: Partly in disbelief about the
attacks, but at the same time it was also
expected: given the earlier reports about
the role of Brussels in the Paris attacks, we
knew something like this could happen.
Valeria: When we arrived in the Central
Station in Brussels it was 9:10, we had
10’ delay. I walked towards the metro
station when people started to come
in the opposite direction at a fast pace.
They talked about a possible attack in a
nearby station, but nobody was sure of
it. I was really scared and I did not know
what to do. I was thankful the train had
a delay that day, otherwise I could have
been passing through Maalbeek at the
time of the attacks. Trains and public
transport stopped working by then; I
could not go back home nor reach my
office. I was incommunicado, many
friends and colleagues tried to reach me,
but I could not answer the phone nor
send text messages because the network
was overloaded. In a matter of minutes
there were helicopters flying into the city
center, police cars driving at high speed
in all directions and ambulance sirens
everywhere, it seemed like a bad dream….