State confirms Americans hurt in Brussels attacks

Multiple Americans were injured in Tuesday morning’s attacks in Brussels, but none appear to have been killed, the State Department said.

The State Department declined to say how many Americans were injured in the terror attacks, for which the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has claimed responsibility.

{mosads}“We know that a number of U.S. citizens were injured in the attacks, but we do not have an accurate figure right now,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. “We do not know of any U.S. deaths at this point.

“The number [of injured Americans] keeps fluctuating, as you might expect it would in a situation that is this fluid,” Kirby added, refusing to give a minimum number of confirmed injuries.

The attacks at an airport and a downtown Brussels metro station killed at least 34 people and injured more than 100. The blasts rocked the European Commission’s home city and stoked new fears about the reach of the terrorist group.

The Pentagon has confirmed that a U.S. service member and his family were injured on Tuesday. Three Mormon missionaries from Utah were also reported among the injured.   

As of Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. was still in the process of confirming that all Americans working for the government or international organizations in Brussels were safe and accounted for.

“The work of accounting for U.S. citizens in the city, including government personnel, is ongoing,” Kirby said. “As far as I know, that effort has not been completed.”

In the aftermath of Tuesday morning’s attacks, the government told Americans in Brussels to shelter in place, avoid public transportation and check in with friends and family, Kirby added.