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Explosion at Brussels criminology institute, no casualties: Broadcaster

Both attacks were claimed by the Islamic State.

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“One or more” suspects then reportedly detonated a bomb near the laboratories, the report said.

“The possibility of a terrorist act is not confirmed”.

The fire severely damaged the laboratories in the NICC, where important information concerning several ongoing investigations and legal cases were stored and analyzed.

Prosecutors say the attackers rammed Belgium’s criminology institute with a vehicle at about 2am local time before setting it ablaze.

RTBF television said two suspects rammed a vehicle into the institute grounds and threw an incendiary device at it. “We have no indications that it was terrorism”.

Fire service spokesperson, Pierre Meys, said: “It was probably not accidental”.

Some 30 firefighters helped put out the resulting fire. “It made the house shake”, she told AFP, asking not to be named. The authorities have claimed that nothing indicates to the incident being a terror attack, while saying it could be at attempt to eliminate evidence. As many as 32 people were killed in two suicide bombings at the airport and subway station.

Bilal Hadfi, who blew himself up outside the Stade de France during last November’s Paris attacks, lived in the suburb.

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The powerful bomb explosion in Neder-Over-Heembeek, in northern Brussels, was registered in early hours on Monday.

Brussels