On March 22nd in Brussels, Belgium, ISIS launched a terrorist attack on an airport and a subway station, killing thirty people and wounding at least 230. Two of the explosions occurred at the Brussels’ international airport outside of the security checkpoints, and three men pushing airport luggage carts have been identified as terrorists in a security camera video. Two of the men were most likely suicide bombers, and officials are currently searching for the third killer. Belgian security sources speculate that the terrorists behind the attacks were also behind the ones in Paris.

The bombings in Brussels follow devastating attacks in Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey and in the Ivory Coast earlier this month. On March 13th, a car bombing left at least thirty-seven dead and more than one hundred injured near one of the busiest streets in Ankara. Less than a week later, on March 19th, a suicide bomber walked into Istanbul’s Taksim square, killing four people. Both events were confirmed to have links to ISIS. NPR reports that on March 13th, gunmen confirmed to be affiliated with al Qaeda opened fire on a beach resort in Grand Bassam in Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, killing nineteen people and injuring twenty-four.

The Maelbeek metro station attack occurred an hour after the airport explosions, and about twenty people were killed. CNN reports that Maelbeek is a Brussels district close to the European Quarter, where European Union institutions are located.

European authorities were aware that Belgium served as a hub of extremism after the Paris attack, but were unable to stop the developing terrorist attack. Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters, “We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened.”

Last week, Belgian authorities captured Europe’s most wanted man, Salah Abdeslam, but the elaborate attacks proceeded as planned on the European city. According to BBC, the bombers were aware that the airport would be filled with families leaving for their spring vacations, and deliberately targeted this busy area.  President Obama commented on the day of the attack, “We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible.”

Heartbreaking videos, along with a foreboding Tweet from ISIS stating, “What will be coming is worse,” have circulated of the deadly attacks, prompting an outcry of sympathy and a deep desire for security. Candles, flags, and other tokens of patriotism and unity have been gathered for memorials around the city.

Ester Van de Put, an exchange student from Brussels currently attending Wilcox, commented that she does not know what to make of the attack. “It’s like everything’s different now. I don’t really know how to explain. It’s stressful because I’m here and all the people I love are there but even if I was there, there is nothing I can do. That’s the stressful part, you don’t know when or where it’s going to happen. And every time you think it’s done, it starts again.”

President Barack Obama, stressed the importance of supporting Belgium in the following months. Van de Put commented, “I feel like this is never going to end and [terrorists] are putting innocent people in danger.  Also too many people talk about what they don’t know, saying that Muslims and immigrants are the problem, they really aren’t. Being a terrorist isn’t being Muslim, it’s not a religion, they don’t share the same beliefs at all.”

Public transportation in Brussels was completely shut down after the attacks and most residents were advised to stay inside their homes. Airport security is expected to tighten considerably in following months to prevent further attacks. US counterterrorism officials blame a lack of security in Belgian airports for the terror attacks, as security in American airports drastically heightened. Police and police dogs searched random passengers at Union Station in Washington, New York, and Chicago, and the FBI searched for suspected terrorists in the US. France and Britain heightened police presence in their countries, and NATO raised its level of alert in a public statement.

Many are pleading for the world to show the same solidarity with the victims of the attacks in Turkey, Ivory Coast and others, as they did for Paris and now Brussels. Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted shortly after the tragic attacks, “We are fighting a terrorist organization, a barbaric organization that is killing innocent people. We are not fighting a religion.”

*Updates will be made accordingly as more information is released regarding the incident.