Ireland's political leaders unite in condemnation of Brussels bombings

Ireland's political leaders are united in a  condemnation of  the Brussels attacks, describing them as an attempt to strike at the "very heart of the European Union" and to plant fear and racism in member nations.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin supported to remarks, saying the bombings are "an attack on all of us" and "strike at the very heart of European people and the European Union".

At least 26 people are dead and more than 100 wounded, after explosions struck Brussels during the Tuesday morning rush hour, Belgian officials say. Two blasts hit the international airport; another struck a metro station. Belgium has issued a Level 4 alert, denoting "serious and imminent attack."

"What we feared has happened, we were hit by blind attacks," Prime Minister Charles Michel said at a midday news conference today. He added that there were many dead and many injured.

Citing Minister of Social Affairs and Health Maggie De Block, Belgian media say 11 people died at the airport attack. Transit and other officials say 15 people died at the metro station. Those same sources say there were 81 injured at the airport and 55 hurt in an attack on a train near the Maelbeek station.