United efforts essential to combat common scourge

The death toll may not be the heaviest, yet the multiple blasts at the Brussels airport and a metro station were cause for serious concern.

Because they occurred in the heart of Europe, at a time when the European Union remains on high alert after the attacks in Paris on Nov 13 and when countries were preparing and prepared for further attacks.

Particularly so in Brussels where the police were being ultra-vigilant in anticipation of reprisals after a suspected participant in the Paris attacks was arrested in the city four days ago.