BRUSSELS – The European Commission’s Brussels headquarters was evacuated on Monday following a bomb scare.

Staff and visitors to the ‘Breydel’ building near Rond Point Schuman in Brussels’ European quarter were evacuated from the premesis, and the street behind the Commission HQ was sealed off.

Bomb disposal experts were called to the scene and removed a suspicious package, which was later revealed to have been a mislaid briefcase.

“It contained a mobile telephone and some papers that someone must have forgotten,” said Belgian police spokesman, adding that bomb disposal officers had nevertheless destroyed the case.

The Commission’s internal security services ordered staff and visitors to leave the building at around 11:00.

It was re-opened half an hour later.

Security is always tight at the Commission but vigilance has been increased even further since the 11 March bomb attacks in Madrid, which killed 190 people.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: Belgian news