Sky Reporter Describes Moment Explosions Hit

Alex Rossi says he "instinctively" knew it was a terror attack when he heard two blasts metres away from him in Brussels airport.


13:06, UK,Tuesday 22 March 2016
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Video: Sky's Alex Rossi Was In The Airport

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By Alex Rossi, Middle East Correspondent, in Brussels

I had been buying chocolate for my children for Easter when I heard the explosions - two blasts, very close to us.

Not only did I hear them, but I also felt them.

The walls of the airport shook, as did the bottles on the shelves of the duty free shop.

Then there was the smell - the sort of acrid smell of smoke.

Instinctively we knew it was a terrorist attack. I didn't think it could be anything else.
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Video: Seconds After Airport Bomb Blast

I think living in these times, you're always aware of the possibility of a terrorist attack.

:: Live Updates: Brussels Airport And Metro Blasts

There were many things going through my mind: as a journalist I was thinking: "I'm a witness to this, I have to document it."

At the same time, you know how terrorists operate and you're worried that, if you run towards the blast to record or to help people, there may be other explosions.

I saw lots of people running towards us, some of them bleeding, although their injuries appeared to be superficial - marks on legs, the walking wounded.

And then there were the people who were just very confused - they didn't know what to do, where to go.

:: Deadly Attacks Hit Brussels Airport And Metro

You have to remember that the authorities have been caught up in this as well.

Like you, they're scared and worried too.

So it took some time for anybody to get control or to get information as to where we should go.
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Video: Latest: Alex Rossi At The Scene

We were moved through the airport - there were people panicking, children crying.

I saw numerous people visibly shaking - the shock manifesting itself physically.

The airport was evacuated and people were sent to a crisis centre.

We had been trying to get back to our base in Israel, having been in Brussels covering the capture of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam, and we had a big discussion last night about what time we should come to the airport.

Because our flight was to Israel, we knew check-in would take longer because security is much higher: the two hours before check-in becomes three hours.

So I had already gone through to the departure lounge.

But afterwards I was thinking: had we been 10 or 15 minutes later, we'd have been on the wrong side of check-in.

You just think that it was close. Very close.

:: Special Programme: Brussels Attacks on Sky News at 7pm tonight