Islamic State claim responsibility for Brussels terror attacks.

Islamic State have taken credit for the two terror attacks that rocked the Belgian capital yesterday leaving 34 people dead and scores badly injured.

The terrorist group thanked Allah for the attack’s success at casting “fear and terror in the hearts of the crusaders, right in their own land.”

The statement, released in Arabic and French, describes how “soldiers of the Caliphate” used suicide belts and bombs to attack locations chosen with precision around Brussels in order to kill a “large number of crusaders.”

“We promise the nations of crusaders that are allied against the Islamic State that dark days lie ahead, in response to their aggression against our State,” the statement says

“And what awaits you will be harder and more bitter, with Allah’s permission.”

In the last few hours officials have released an image of who they believe to be the three suspects.

The image shows three unidentified men pushing trollies with suitcases past Zaventem airport’s check-in area, two of whom are wearing a black glove on their left hand.

The grainy pictures have been released by Belgian police as part of their investigation, according to the Belgian news agency Belga.

Two of the men have dark hair, and one of them is wearing a red hat.

At least 34 people have been confirmed dead and more than 80 injured, following explosions at Belgium’s Zaventem airport yesterday as well as a separate explosion at Maalbeek metro station near the EU buildings in the heart of Brussels.

Belgium’s federal prosecutor has confirmed that the airport blast was carried out by a suicide bomber.

The attacks follow November’s terrorist in Paris that killed 130 people, which Islamic State also claimed responsibilty for.

“We are at war. We have been subjected for the last few months in Europe to acts of war,” said France’s Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

All metro and train stations across the capital were closed, and all airport operations suspended.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop released a statement condemning “what appears to be coordinated terror attacks on Belgium”. It is still unknown whether any Australians are among the casualties.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expressed his concern about the unfolding events and offered Australia’s “thoughts, prayers and solidarity” to the Belgian people.

David Cameron is to chair a meeting of the UK government’s emergency committee, Cobra, in the wake of the Brussels attacks.

Authorities are yet to release official details about both incidents, but unverified images and video posted to social media show people running from the Zaventem terminal building as smoke billows from shattered windows, while others attend to the injured outside Maalbeek.

The precise location of the airport blasts is currently unknown, although reports are suggesting that they originated nearby the American Airlines desk in the departures hall and one near the tarmac.

Belgian authorities have evacuated and closed the airport, and all trains have been diverted from the attached station.

The Belgian government has raised the nation’s terror threat to the highest level in response to the blasts.

The incidents come just days after key terror suspect Salah Abdeslam was arrested in the Belgian capital for his alleged involvement in last year’s Paris terror attacks.

The unauthorised footage from Zaventem airport is below… 

Australians concerned about loved ones can contact the embassy in Brussels on +32 2 286 0500 or the 24-Hour DFAT emergency hotline on 1300 555 135.