The U.S. military is working to determine how to best keep troops in Europe safe following a string of bombings in Brussels, Belgium, Tuesday morning that killed at least 26 people.
Lt. Col. David Westover, a spokesman for U.S. European Command, said the military is closely monitoring the developing situation in Brussels, but that all U.S. troops in the region are safe.
“At the present time, we have accounted for all our U.S. military members who were in the region at the time of the attacks,” he said. “Additionally, we are working closely with our interagency partners and host nation counterparts to determine the appropriate steps to ensure the safety and security of all U.S. personnel.”
Two explosions in Brussels – one at the main airport and one at a metro station near the European Union – are thought to be in retaliation the last week’s arrest of Salah Abdeslam, a terrorist behind last year’s attacks in Paris. The attacks prompted Brussels to increase its security to the highest threat level. Officials in the U.S. also increased patrols on public transit in major cities like New York and Washington.
Westover also said that U.S. citizens in the region should “remain vigilant and aware of the local security situation.”
The U.S. Embassy in Belgium issued a statement Tuesday morning encouraging all civilians to shelter in place and avoid public transportation.
