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Brussels Mourns As Manhunt Continues For Last Suspect In Terror Attacks

BRUSSELS (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Crowds gathered for vigils in Brussels late Tuesday as investigators continued to comb through bloody crime scenes, following coordinated attacks at the Brussels airport and a busy train station.

The Islamic State group, or ISIS, claimed responsibility for attacks in Brussels that killed 34 people and injured 214 others.

In the middle of a busy morning rush hour, two explosions hit the Brussels Airport at Zaventem and a third struck in the city's Maelbeek metro station, which is near the U.S. Embassy and European Union headquarters.

Earlier, Belgian Health Minister Maggie de Block said 11 people were killed and 81 were injured in the blasts at the airport. Brussels Mayor Yvan Majeur said at least 20 people were killed and 106 people were injured in the attack on the subway station.

Belgian prosecutors said a nail bomb, chemicals and an ISIS flag were found in a search Tuesday.

As CBS2's Tony Aiello reported, the vigils Tuesday night looked not unlike those seen in Madrid in 2004, London in 2004, or Paris in January and November of last year. But in Belgium, the nation has been on edge for months.

"It was not a big surprise; it was expected," said one person at the vigil. "But it's terrible."

BRUSSELS ATTACKS: Photos | Videos | Coverage From CBS News

The Islamic State group said its extremists opened fire in the airport and "several of them'' detonated suicide belts in response to Belgium's support of the international coalition arrayed against it. The posting in the group's Amaq news agency said another suicide attacker detonated in the metro.

Florence Muls, a spokeswoman for the Brussels Airport, said a third bomb was neutralized at the airport. Two sources also confirmed to CBS News that a Kalashnikov assault rifle was found in the terminal.

I think the sophistication of the attack has impressed or surprised people in that it was, again, a series of attacks. It was coordinated. There were secondary targets and explosions," said U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) "So no, this was a very sophisticated operation."

So far, three men have been identified as possible suspects in the airport bombing. Authorities in Belgium said two men in a photo issued by police were "probably" suicide bombers while a third is being sought.

Brussels Attacks Possible Suspects
A picture taken from a security camera in the Brussels airport before the attacks. Belgium's VTM network broadcaster said police and security services consider these three men suspects in the attacks. VTM NETWORK,BELGIUM

 

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