Brussels bombings are an attack on the freedoms we all enjoy in Europe
By Brian Hayes MEP
Brussels is one of those cities which is truly international. People from outside Belgium are made feel welcome.
On Tuesday the natural welcome of the city was shattered. Since the bombings people feel utterly shocked and terrified.
Ordinary people were cut down in the prime of their life because a tiny number of fanatics oppose the freedoms we all enjoy. The Brussels attacks were an attack on all Europeans and on Europe.
Forty minutes before the metro bombing I was on the metro. We stay about five stops away from the EU parliament. When I’m in Brussels I make the 20-minute journey on line 6 to Troon Metro station.
Two stops from Troon is the Maelbeek Station where 20 people were killed and hundreds were injured.
The bomb could be heard in Shuman, the next station, and under the Commission building. All over the parliament MEPS were trying to find out the whereabouts of their staff to make sure everyone was accounted for.
Horror stories were emerging from the airport – a bomb in the airport just as people arrived for their flights, caused by a suicide bomber.
Every week, sometimes twice a week, we all go through Brussels airport on route to Dublin. It’s a simple flight to Dublin of about 80 minutes. We heard stories of people running for their lives as the building collapsed.
Back in the parliament we were told not to leave the building. People were dazed and could not believe what was happening.
The Brussels attacks this week cannot be allowed to undermine our freedoms. We must all be vigilant and support the necessary changes to security that will follow. But if we overreact the terrorists will win. That cannot be allowed to happen.
