Europe steps up security after deadly blasts in Belgium
People leave the scene of explosions at Zaventem airport near Brussels, Belgium, March 22, 2016. REUTERS/Francois LenoirPolice in German, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have stepped up security at airports and public places following the explosions in Brussels on Tuesday.
German federal police are tightening security at airports, public spaces and borders following a series of explosions in Belgian capital Brussels.
Officers at Frankfurt airport were immediately placed on high alert and additional patrols were ordered for sensitive areas, broadcaster n-tv reported early on Tuesday.
Many flights heading to Brussels are likely to be rerouted to Frankfurt after the Belgian capital\’s airport was closed completely, Frankfurter Rundschau reported.
A federal police spokeswoman told The Local that they were still evaluating the situation following the explosions in Brussels and would give details of security measures at other airports as soon as possible.
One The Local reader reported increased police presence at Cologne airport on Tuesday morning.
Berlin\’s Tegel airport announced that its observation platform would remain closed on Tuesday as a "preventive measure".
Two flights to Brussels from Tegel slated for Tuesday were cancelled, including one aircraft whose passengers had boarded and were ready to take off.
There had been a total of eight flights from Berlin to Brussels from both Tegel and Schönefeld airport, but with Brussels airport completely closed all have been cancelled.
Danish police said they had increased patrols at Copenhagen airport and other key points in the city following the deadly explosions at Brussels airport and a metro station in the city.
"We are aware of what has happened in Brussels. Therefore you will see more police in the airport and at key points in Copenhagen," Danish police said on its official Twitter page.
Danish authorities have been on high alert since two people were killed in shooting attacks on a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen in February last year.
In Norway, police officers in Oslo will carry weapons again for a temporary period, a police spokeswoman said. Officers were armed between November 2014 and February of this year due to a risk of attacks by Islamist militants. More police would also patrol the streets of the capital.
Police in Sweden said they had reinforced their presence at airports and taken increased security measures at other public places.
Finnish Interior Minister Petteri Orpo said on Twitter "Finnish security officials have increased monitoring at Helsinki-Vantaa airport".
SOURCE: REUTERS and agencies
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