Two UMass students are safe in Brussels following bombings
No UMass faculty or staff were in the city
Following the Brussels attack on the city’s metro station and airport yesterday, UMass Amherst spokesman Patrick Callahan confirmed that our one undergraduate student studying abroad in the city is safe. Another student was on a personal trip to Brussels, Belgium and has also been confirmed safe.
Callahan told MassLive that “We have one undergraduate student in Brussels [on a study abroad program,] we have checked with her and she is OK. She is safe.”
Western Mass News also reported that the university has sent out an email to all of its students abroad with advice regarding their plans during the Easter break. Since many of them will arrange small excursions with their friends abroad, UMass recommends they stay in touch with their host university, avoid traveling through Europe due to suspended trains, and to check the news.
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/23/world/europe/brussels-airport-explosions.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=span-ab-top-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1
The International Programs Office also sent out an email to students abroad in Europe specifically to warm them of potential travel complications in the near future.
UMass Amherst offers one study abroad program in Brussels through the Council on International Educational Exchange.
More than 30 people are believed to have been killed and dozens injured after the bombings in Brussels. According to the Guardian, it is believed that all three suicide bombers had known links to the terror attacks in Paris.
Check here for updates on the attacks.