Audio: Jonathan Hill speaks to Notts TV’s Hugh Casswell from his office in Brussels
A Nottinghamshire man was among thousands of people on lockdown in Brussels after terrorist attacks killed and seriously injured a number of people.
Sherwood-born Jonathan Hill was at his office in the European Commission in the Belgian capital when two explosions ripped through its main airport early on Monday morning.
Another bomb went off at around 8am at Maelbeek metro station.
Mr Hill’s office is around half a mile away from both locations, and he has was told to stay inside.
He said: “My mum and I spoke at about eight o’clock UK time this morning, and I wished her happy birthday, and at that point we only knew about the explosions at the airport.
“But as I was speaking to her the reports were coming in about the explosions at the metro station.”
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris terror attacks, was seized in Brussels.
People know that we are a target
Mr Hill said: “I think we have become used to a high security threat since the Paris attacks last November, we’ve all got used to seeing very heavily armed soldiers on the street walking up and down the pavements and around town.
“I think psychologically people have been prepared for something like this because they know that we are a target. Obviously, we hope every day that’s not going to happen but I think we know and recognise that we are a target.”
Mr Hill was raised in Nottingham but has been living in Brussels for the last 20 years, working at the Commission as a speech writer.
#Brussels is under attack today. Airport has been bombed & reports of another bomb on the Metro close to European Quarter
— Emma McClarkin (@EmmaMcClarkin) March 22, 2016
Picture: East Midlands MEP Emma McClarkin is also in Brussels today but is safe
The city’s transport system and airport have since been closed and people are being told to stay at home.
The Belgian government says there have been casualties at the airport and metro station but the exact numbers and cause of the explosions are still unconfirmed, although they are being treated as terrorist incidents.
