Posted on Mar 22, 2016
Air Force officer and family injured in Brussels attacks
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An Air Force officer and several of his family members were injured during Tuesday's bombings in Brussels, and military officials in Europe ordered most of the 60,000-plus troops stationed throughout the continent to avoid any travel to Belgium's capital, defense officials said.
The Air Force said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the airman was assigned to Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands.
"The airman's family was also present and has sustained various injuries. Due to privacy concerns, we are not releasing the status of their injuries,” according to the statement.
The Associated Press reported that the airman was a lieutenant colonel, citing anonymous defense officials.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with our Air Force family, and with the hundreds of others affected by these tragic events," said Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force chief of staff.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have left more than 30 people dead and dozens more injured.
The report of American injuries first emerged during a hearing Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill.
“Six American citizens injured, including five family members of the military," Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, announced during a hearing on the military's health budget. "It’s horrendous. I’m sure we are meeting their needs."
Brussels is home to NATO's headquarters. Thousands of American military personnel and their families are stationed there.
Collins told Military Times that U.S. officials in Europe are "closely monitoring the situation" as they continue to seek "100 percent accountability" for all American personnel in the region.
On Tuesday EUCOM imposed travel restrictions on essentially all troops in Europe, ordering them to stay out of Brussels.
"As a precautionary measure to keep personnel and families safe in light of the today's attacks, U.S. European Command has implemented travel restrictions to Brussels, Belgium. Specifically, unofficial travel to Brussels (leave, liberty, and special pass) is prohibited until further notice. Those on official travel or emergency leave to Brussels will also require the approval" from senior leaders, according to a EUCOM statment issued Tuesday afternoon.
"This EUCOM policy applies to military personnel, DOD civilian employees, contractors, and command-sponsored dependents and family members. These restrictions do not apply to military personnel assigned to diplomatic posts in Belgium," according to the statement.
The U.S. embassy in Brussels issued a statement urging American citizens there "to remain vigilant and aware of the local security situation; to follow local authority instructions and to monitor local media for further developments."
In the United States, state officials activated the New York National Guard's quick reaction force to provide additional security at airports.
At least 31 people were killed and dozens wounded in Brussels Tuesday as bomb blasts struck the airport and one of the city's metro stations. The European capital was locked down amid heightened security threats.
The two airport blasts, at least one of which was blamed on a suicide bomber, left behind a chaotic scene of splattered blood in the departure lounge as windows were blown out, ceilings collapsed and travelers streamed out of the smoky building.
About an hour later, another bomb exploded on a rush-hour subway train near the European Union headquarters. Terrified passengers had to evacuate through darkened tunnels to safety.
The attacks came just days after Belgian authorities arrested a key suspect in the terrorist attacks on Paris in November.
MAJ Ken Landgren SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Obom Bowen CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan PO2 Ed C. SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) CPT L SSP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM Mikel Dawson CSM Charles Hayden SGT Benjamin Lindsey SPC Andrew Griffin d SN Greg Wright TSgt Hunter Logan
The Air Force said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that the airman was assigned to Joint Force Command Brunssum in the Netherlands.
"The airman's family was also present and has sustained various injuries. Due to privacy concerns, we are not releasing the status of their injuries,” according to the statement.
The Associated Press reported that the airman was a lieutenant colonel, citing anonymous defense officials.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with our Air Force family, and with the hundreds of others affected by these tragic events," said Gen. Mark Welsh, the Air Force chief of staff.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have left more than 30 people dead and dozens more injured.
The report of American injuries first emerged during a hearing Tuesday morning on Capitol Hill.
“Six American citizens injured, including five family members of the military," Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, announced during a hearing on the military's health budget. "It’s horrendous. I’m sure we are meeting their needs."
Brussels is home to NATO's headquarters. Thousands of American military personnel and their families are stationed there.
Collins told Military Times that U.S. officials in Europe are "closely monitoring the situation" as they continue to seek "100 percent accountability" for all American personnel in the region.
On Tuesday EUCOM imposed travel restrictions on essentially all troops in Europe, ordering them to stay out of Brussels.
"As a precautionary measure to keep personnel and families safe in light of the today's attacks, U.S. European Command has implemented travel restrictions to Brussels, Belgium. Specifically, unofficial travel to Brussels (leave, liberty, and special pass) is prohibited until further notice. Those on official travel or emergency leave to Brussels will also require the approval" from senior leaders, according to a EUCOM statment issued Tuesday afternoon.
"This EUCOM policy applies to military personnel, DOD civilian employees, contractors, and command-sponsored dependents and family members. These restrictions do not apply to military personnel assigned to diplomatic posts in Belgium," according to the statement.
The U.S. embassy in Brussels issued a statement urging American citizens there "to remain vigilant and aware of the local security situation; to follow local authority instructions and to monitor local media for further developments."
In the United States, state officials activated the New York National Guard's quick reaction force to provide additional security at airports.
At least 31 people were killed and dozens wounded in Brussels Tuesday as bomb blasts struck the airport and one of the city's metro stations. The European capital was locked down amid heightened security threats.
The two airport blasts, at least one of which was blamed on a suicide bomber, left behind a chaotic scene of splattered blood in the departure lounge as windows were blown out, ceilings collapsed and travelers streamed out of the smoky building.
About an hour later, another bomb exploded on a rush-hour subway train near the European Union headquarters. Terrified passengers had to evacuate through darkened tunnels to safety.
The attacks came just days after Belgian authorities arrested a key suspect in the terrorist attacks on Paris in November.
MAJ Ken Landgren SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Obom Bowen CPT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SSG Warren Swan PO2 Ed C. SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SSgt (Join to see) CPT L SSP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas SGM Mikel Dawson CSM Charles Hayden SGT Benjamin Lindsey SPC Andrew Griffin d SN Greg Wright TSgt Hunter Logan
Air Force officer and family injured in Brussels attacks
Posted from armytimes.com
Air Force
Terrorism
Brussels
Posted >1 y ago
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Wishing the officer and his family well SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. and may these bastards rot in hell as they are not human. They are cowards who prey on innocent people. Our task as a human race should be to annihilate them.
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