Belgian man to Channel 9: 'The city is numb'

Two explosions rocked the Brussels airport and a third hit the city's Maelbeek metro station Tuesday morning.

Belgian officials said 34 people have been killed and more than 180 injured in the terror attacks.

Mike Ven, 44, works for an alarm system company just 10 minutes from the scene of Tuesday’s terror attacks at the Brussels airport.

Ven will soon be the brother-in-law of Eyewitness News reporter Greg Suskin. He's from Belgium, but is coming to the United States in April to get married and make the U.S. his permanent home.

His phone started ringing early Tuesday and news notifications began popping up on his phone.

“I was shocked. It's really scary, knowing that it's so close. It's not just the Middle East anymore. It's right here in the heart of Europe," Ven said.

“I feel sorry for the families, (and) for all the people they've lost and those injured."

Ven said phone lines were unreliable on Tuesday and the police had locked down much of the area. He spoke to Channel 9 by FaceTime from outside his workplace and said the city is numb.

"Belgium is mourning, of course, just like the people in Paris in November of last year." Ven said.

The deadly Paris attacks led authorities to Belgium, where they recently arrested the last terrorist involved in the attacks. Ven said that put everyone on edge.

"When there are arrests, and people start realizing that it is very close, then of course the fear kicks in," he said.

After two coordinated attacks, people are afraid that more are coming and worry that terrorists are still on the loose in the city. Ven said it was always a safe place before.

"A few years ago you could walk here and not have a problem. You feel very safe. But now the last few weeks, everybody's really at their limits, you know." he said.

He told Channel 9 that there were signs on the highway as he was driving to work telling people not to come to the airport and that it was closed. He also noticed far less traffic coming in, and the streets seemed quieter.

He said he's trying to avoid letting fear get the better of him.

“I think we cannot let fear control our minds, because fear is a mind killer and it you live in fear, you don't live, you know," Ven said.

The hardest thing for Ven is that he's leaving his family behind to come to the U.S. to join another family by marriage.

He has the support of his family in Belgium, but wants to know that they'll be safe as well.

"You just can't be 100 percent sure, and that's hard," he said. "It's not safe anywhere."

Read more stories about the attacks on Belgium:

• At least 34 dead, 187 wounded after explosions rock Brussels
• ISIS claims responsibility for Brussels attacks
• 3 American missionaries injured in Brussels terrorist attacks
• PHOTOS: Terror attacks hit Brussels airport, metro
• Brussels attacks: 5 things to know
• SPECIAL SECTION: Brussels Attacks

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