Italy on maximum security alert after Brussels attacks

At least 10 people are also reported to have been killed in blasts at metro stations in the city.

Passenger checks at Rome’s Fiumicino airport have been tightened while flights to and from Brussels have been cancelled.

Security, already heightened in the wake of the Paris attacks in November, has also been strengthened at the city’s metro and train stations, as well as at the Belgian embassy, Belgian cultural institutions, homes of diplomats and the Vatican.

Security is also reported to have been upped at airports in Milan.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said on Twitter that the national committee on security and public order would meet at 3pm on Tuesday. “The Brussels attacks hit the heart of our Europe,” he added.

Brussels airport was hit by two explosions shortly after 8am, then at around 9.20am there were reports of explosions at three Metro stations in the city.

At least 13 people were killed in the airport blasts, according to the latest reports, and 35 were left injured. The latest reports claimed there were 10 fatalities caused by the explosions in the Metro stations.

Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said there is yet no information on whether any of those killed or injured were Italian.

“For now, we have no record of Italian citizens involved in the Brussels attacks,” he was quoted by Ansa saying, adding that the situation “will become clear in a few hours.”

The source of the explosions has not been confirmed but it appears likely the Belgium capital has been targeted by a coordinated terror attack.

The city quickly went into lockdown with the airport - an inteational hub - immediately closed until at least 6am on Wednesday and the city's Metro system evacuated. The city's museums were also closed and the public transport system suspended.

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also took to Twitter to say his "heart and mind" are in Brussels.