Canadian working near Brussels train station blast describes 'sombre' scene

A Canadian who lives in Brussels and works near the Maelbeek metro station, where at least 20 people were killed inTuesday's terrorist attack,says people in the area are shocked but not holed up indoors.

"It's sombre, I would say, but people are walking around the streets," Tim Maler told The Calgary Eyeopener Tuesday morning from inside his office building.

"And, obviously,everybody is talking about it. It's the only thing that anybody's dealing with right now."

• Brussels airport, subway hit by explosions, killing at least 34
• European airports, train stations, metros tighten security
• PHOTOS |Belgium explosions: Imagesfrom Brussels

The area around thestation,itself,has been blocked off by police and people in the vicinity are being advised to be cautious but are not under a "lockdown," he added.

Maler, who works as asenior correspondent with the EU Business and Agriculture Intelligence Service (AgriEurope), said he first heard about the otherattack on the Brussels airport, which killed at least 14 people, while on his way to work.

When he arrived, he learned of the explosionat the nearbytrain station.

"Today I biked to work but sometimes I take the metro and I would have been passing by the station around that time," he said.

"Thankfully, I didn't."

Maler said he's still grappling to process the scale of what happened.

"I'm fine but I'm extremely sad for all the people who lost their lives," he said.

"You never expect something like this to happen."

Machine guns in streets the norm

Former CalgarianPeeter Aitken co-owns a small bar in a pedestrian plaza one block away from Grand Place in Brussels, and said he plans to open asusual at 3 p.m.

"We decided that ...as long as they were familiar faces, and that we knew them, we would stay open for them," he said.

Aitken said the heightened police and military presence nearbymakes him feel safer.

"It's nothing to walk around the corner in the street right downtown and walk right into three military army fatigues with machine guns walking towards you," he said.

"When you first saw them, you really couldn't keep your eyes off them. Now they're more of a relief that they're there for our protection."

Acts deemed 'cowardly' by politicians

In a statement, Premier Rachel Notleyoffered condolencesand solidarity to the people of Belgium.

"Terrorizing innocent civilians is a cowardly act," she said.

"These unspeakable acts are fostering the opposite of their desired effect. As the world grapples with another senseless terror attack, our collective resolve to stand tall against terrorism only grows."

Similarly, Wildrose opposition leader Brian Jean said he was "horrified by the savage terrorist attacks inBrussels."

"Together we will stand against these cowardly acts of terror and show the strength of our resolve in our commitment to peace and unity."

Heightened security at YYC

No flights have beenaffected at Calgary International Airport as a result of the Brussels attacks, said a spokesperson in a statement.

"However we have increased our vigilance and we remain focused, as we are every day, on the safety and well-being of everyone at Calgary InternationalAirport."

The threat risk level has not been raised in Canada,but authorities are askingstaff and peace officers to make sure they remainvisible in light of theattacks,saidCalgary Transit spokesperson BrianWhitelaw,

"Anything that is suspicious we're asking that people pay attention to and contact us through a variety of ways on the transit system," he said, adding that this will likely continue for the week.

No CBE students in Belgium

The Calgary Board of Education said none of its students are currently on school trips in Belgium.

"Student safety is always our priority," said a media spokesperson.

"We continually monitor travel advisories for all student trip destinations, and as always, we will respond to any changes."

The CalgaryCatholic School District cancelled all international trips as of November last year, and has not changed that since, said media relations specialistKarenRyhorchuk.

With files from The Calgary Eyeopener andThe Homestretch