Brussels, March 23

Belgium will respond to the threat it faces "firmly, calmly and with dignity," King Philippe said in a televised address on Tuesday evening in the wake of the Brussels terror attacks.

"Our country is in the mourning," Xinhua quoted the king as saying in a short speech broadcast at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

Describing the attacks as "cowardly and odious," King Philippe said he and his wife Mathilde shared their sorrow with those who have lost a loved one or who were injured.

He praised the work of the emergency services and gave thanks to "all those who spontaneously offered help."

King Philippe concluded: "Faced with this threat, we will continue to respond firmly, calmly and with dignity. Let us remain confident in ourselves. This confidence is our strength."

Public transport resumes after Brussels attacks

Railway services in Brussels resumed after they were halted following Tuesday's attacks on the Belgian capital.

Xinhua quoted national railway operator SNCB as saying that trains would be allowed through Brussels and stations would reopen, with three exceptions.

Schuman and Luxembourg stations are located in the European district of the city, close to the scene of the Maelbeek subway explosion on Tuesday morning.

Brussels Airport railway station will also remain closed, following double explosions in the departure hall of the airport.

Schools in the Brussels region will remain open on Wednesday, L'Echo newspaper reported.

Most staff at the European Commission can choose to work from home on Wednesday, according to a memo sent to all staff on Tuesday afternoon

European monuments lit up in solidarity with victims

 Many monuments in Europe were lit up in the colours of the Belgian flag in solidarity with the victims of Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris was seen with the black, yellow and red colours of the Belgian flag in tribute to the victims of Brussels bomb attacks. In Berlin, the Brandenburg gate was illuminated in the colours of the Belgian flag in tribute to Tuesday’s victims. The courthouse in Lyon, France paid tribute to the victims by painting the building in Belgian flag colours, The Guardian reported here.

At least 34 people were killed and some 200 injured in coordinated bomb attacks on Brussels' main airport and the subway. One of the two airport blasts is believed to have been a suicide bombing.