Manhunt begins

Belgium launched a huge manhunt yesterday after a series of bombings claimed by the Islamic State group ripped through Brussels airport and a metro train, killing around 35 people.

Belgian authorities published surveillance camera images showing three male suspects pushing trollies with suitcases past the check-in area. Two have dark hair and were both wearing a glove on only one hand, and a third, being hunted by Belgian police, is wearing a hat and a white coat.

Several raids were also under way across Belgium, the federal prosecutor said, adding that a bomb, an Islamic State flag and chemicals had been found in one apartment.

Meanwhile, US officials yesterday said they strongly believed that a strike in Brussels was possible, particularly after Belgium's arrest last week of a key suspect in the Paris attacks. Still, they were not aware of any US intelligence about where or when the attack would occur.

The attacks came just four days after the arrest of French citizen Salah Abdeslam.

US believe that the attack date was already on the schedule before his arrest, and possibly advanced somewhat because of his arrest.

Belgian authorities had been on alert after Abdeslam told investigators he had been planning an attack on Brussels.