The world is living in a very new reality. Terrorism is no longer isolated in war-torn countries, but quickly finding its way to big cities in peaceful countries in Africa and the West.
Just months after the Paris attacks, Belgium was hit by twin bombings in its capital Brussels yesterday, which also happens to be the headquarters of the European Union.
More than 30 people were killed by a suicide bomber at Brussels Airport, while another bomb went off at a Metro Station barely 400 metres from the EU headquarters.
Soldiers were deployed to the airport and other key locations within the country, as hundreds of flights were cancelled across Europe.
When Kenya was under a terror attack last year, about 15,000 Belgian students gathered in Brussels to light candles for Garissa University victims.
A candle was lit for each of the 148 victims. They were put in front of the stage, in the middle of flowers and with a sign that read “I am a student, I am Garissa”. Candles were also given out to the crowd, who were also there to hear the speeches.
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“Blood spilled in Africa is the same as blood spilled in Belgium, France or Denmark”, said Jonathan De Lathouwer, president of the Belgian Union of Jewish Students. “As students, we are moved also. The silence of pantoufles is worse than the noise of boots. We wanted to show solidarity to the families of the students killed. It’s also the symbol of the University that was attacked. It’s the future of the country, the symbol of knowledge. It’s a multicultural University, with Muslim and Christian students, which the terrorists wanted to destroy”.
It’s now Kenyans’ turn to stand with Belgium.
Here are photos of how that went down.
