Brussels attacks: Mother of young twins among victims named

The identities of victims of the twin terror attacks in Brussels have started to trickle through.

The death of student Leopold Hecht at Maalbeek metro station was confirmed with “immense sadness” by the rector of Saint-Louis University in the city.

Calling Tuesday’s deadly atrocities “barbaric acts”, Pierre Jadoul said in a statement: “There is no word to describe our dismay. All our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.”

Peruvian woman Adelma Tapia Ruiz, 37, was also named by the Foreign Ministry as one of those killed in the airport bombings.

Her brother Fernando Tapia told Peruvian radio station RPP that his sister was at the airport with her Belgian husband Christophe Delcambe and their twin four-year-old daughters Maureen and Alondra, who also have Belgian nationality. He said Mr Delcambe and the girls were unhurt because they left the area where the explosions occurred moments before the bombs detonated.

Another victim was Olivier Delespesse, who also died at Maelbeek station.

His death was confirmed by the French Community of Belgium, of which he was a member.

Friends of Sabrina Fazal, a 24-year-old nursing student and Belgian national, say Ms Fazal was on the metro when the terrorists struck and they have not been able to contact her since. She has a one-year-old son named Heyden, who is staying with his grandmother.

Graphic shows timeline of terrorist attacks from Paris to Brussels.

There are also fears for two siblings, Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski, from New York, The two were at the airport terminal when the bombs were detonated. Family say they have not been able to reach them.

Among the hundreds injured are at least eight French citizens, including three seriously wounded, according to the country’s foreign ministry.

Three Italians were also among the injured, although not seriously, according to Belgium’s Italian embassy. Two Britons, two Colombians, and an Ecuadorian national were among the wounded, their governments said.

David Dixon, a British computer programmer from Nottingham, has been missing since the attacks. Mr Dixon commutes on the Belgian capital’s metro but did not arrive at work yesterday. Relatives and friends have been unable to reach him.