Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Brussels bombings: The victims and survivors

More than 30 people were killed and hundreds injured in a series of explosions at the Belgium capital's airport and train station on March 22.

This May 2015 family photo shows Sascha Pinczowski at her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College in New York.

This May 2015 family photo shows Sascha Pinczowski at her graduation from Marymount Manhattan College in New York. Source: AAP

The death toll for the Brussels blasts now sits at 32, with victims and survivors coming from a wide variety of countries.

Adelma Tapia Ruiz

Brussels bombing victims
Adelma Tapia Ruiz was the first fatality confirmed in the Brussels bombings. Source: Supplied

The 37-year-old Peruvian was the first fatality confirmed. Ms Tapia was killed in the Zaventem airport explosion, where she was with her Belgian husband and their twin four-year-old daughters.

Ms Tapia’s brother, Fernando Tapia Coral, called his sister’s death an “incomprehensible” pain that “is very complicated to describe”.

Léopold Hecht

Brussels bombing victims
Léopold Hecht was a popular figure at his university. Source: Supplied

20-year-old Léopold Hecht was a law student from Brussels. He was killed in the attack at Maelbeek Metro Station.

His family, friends and university paid tribute to his character and stage talents.

David Dixon

Brussels bombing victims
David Dixon died before his son's seventh birthday. Source: Supplied

British man David Dixon died on the metro, shortly after texting his aunt to say he was safe when the airport was bombed.

The 50-year-old was an IT expert living in Brussels. He and his partner had a son, who turned seven days after the attacks.

Olivier Delespesse

Brussels bombing victims
Olivier Delespesse was 45 years old. Source: Supplied

Known to his co-workers as playful and approachable, 45-year-old Olivier Delespesse died in the subway blast.

Alexander and Sascha Pinczowski

Brussels bombing victims
Brother and sister Alexander ans Sascha Pincozwski were killed at Brussels airport. Source: Supplied

Dutch siblings Alexander, 29, and Sascha Pinczowski, 26, were on the phone with their mother to tell her they had reached the airport when the explosions went off in the departure hall.

They were waiting to board a flight back to New York, where the pair had been living for several years. Alex was engaged, while Sascha had previously spoken out against the “ignorant spreading of anti-Muslim sentiments”.

Elita Borbor Weah

Brussels bombing victims
Elita Borbor Weah texted her family this photo of herself just before she died in the airport attacks. Source: Supplied

40-year-old Dutch national Elita Borbor Weah was on her way to her stepfather’s funeral in the US when she texted a photo of herself at the airport. The blasts went off shortly after.

Justin and Stephanie Shults

Brussels bombing victims
Justin and Stephanie Shults have been remembered as a "happy" couple. Source: Supplied

The American couple moved to Brussels in 2014 after Stephanie received a job with a chocolate company. They had just dropped Stephanie’s mother off at the airport when the explosions occurred.

Friends and colleagues remembered the pair as “happy, successful” people.

Bart Migom

Brussels bombing victims
Belgian student Bart Migom was set to fly out to see his girlfriend in the US when he was killed. Source: Supplied

21-year-old Bart Migom was studying marketing at The Howest University in Belgium, killed as he prepared to board a flight to see his girlfriend in the US.

Mr Migom’s girlfriend, Emily Eisenman, said the last time she heard from him was a text message while he was on the way to the airport.

Fabienne Vansteenkiste

Brussels bombing victims
Fabienne Vansteenkiste was about to finish her shift as a baggage handler when the blasts went off. Source: Supplied

51-year-old Fabienne Vansteenkiste was a baggage handler at Brussels airport and was about to finish her shift when she was killed.

Ms Vansteenkiste’s family confirmed her death, saying they are “full of disbelief and sadness”.

My Atlegrim

Brussels bombing victims
Swedish national My Atlegrim was killed in the train blasts. Source: Supplied

My Atlegrim, from Umeå in northern Sweden, was in the underground Maalbeek train station when the third attacks took place.

Initially feared missing, Ms Atlegrim’s mother confirmed her daughter’s death in a written statement, adding she was identified at a military hospital in Brussels.

Loubna Lafquiri

Brussels bombing victims
34-year-old Loubna Lafquiri leaves behind three children. Source: Supplied

Mother-of-three Loubna Lafquiri, 34, was a gymnastics teacher at an Islamic school in Brussels. She was killed in the suicide bombing on Maelbeek metro.

The Belgian-Moroccan national had a class to teach that morning, but tragically never showed up.

Patricia Rizzo

Brussels bombing victims
Italian Patricia Rizzo was killed in the Maelbeek metro blasts. Source: Supplied

48-year-old Patricia Rizzo was an Italian national working in Brussels, killed at Maelbeek metro.

Her employers said that Mr Rizzo had a son, and “had a wonderful, smiling attitude”.

Andre Adam

Brussels bombing victims
Andre Adam was the former Belgian ambassador to the United States. Source: Supplied

79-year-old Andre Adam, the former Belgian ambassador to the United States, was in the departures hall of Zaventem airport with his wife when the explosions hit.

In a Facebook post, his daughter described her father as “cultured and cheerful man”.

Sabrina Fazal

Brussels bombing victims
Sabrina Fazal was a dotting mother and proud Belgian-Congolese woman. Source: Supplied

24-year-old Sabrina Esmael Fazal, a proud member of Belgium’s Congolese community, was killed at Maelbeek train station.

The nursing student has been remembered as loving and doting mother to her one-year-old son, Heyden.

Jennifer Garcia Scintu Waetzmann

Brussels bombing victims
Jennifer Garcia Scintu Waetzmann was set to go on her belated honeymoon. Source: Supplied

Jennifer Garcia Scintu, 29, was a Spanish woman with Italian and German nationality, was a youth handball coach in Germany.

She was ready to fly out to New York with her husband for a belated honeymoon when she was killed.

Deng Jingquan

Brussels bombing victims
Frank Deng was only 24-years-old. Source: Supplied

Deng Jingquan, also known as Frank Deng, was preparing to travel to Slovenia when he was killed at the Brussels airport.

Belgium’s Chinese embassy confirmed his death, with Shenzhen officials and family members set to arrive in Brussels.

Raghavendran Ganesan

Brussels bombing victims
Raghavendran Ganesan's death was confirmed five days after the blasts. Source: Supplied

Indian Raghavendran Ganesan worked in Belgium for a consulting and technology company, and died at Maelbeek metro.

His death was confirmed five days after the attacks. His remains have been flown back to India.

Yves Cibuabua Ciyombo

Brussels bombing victims
Yves Cibuabua Ciyombo leaves behind a wife and two young daughters. Source: Supplied

27-year-old Yves Cibuabua Ciyombo was last heard from boarding the train prior to the blasts.

He leaves behind a wife and two young daughters, who he described as “angels” in his last Instagram post.

Mélanie Defize

Brussels bombing victims
29-year-old Mélanie Defize died in the train blasts. Source: Supplied

Mélanie Defize, 29, has been remembered as a person who both loved and lived music.

Ms Defize was a classical and jazz music producer, killed at Maelbeek station.

Lauriane Visart

Brussels bombing victims
Lauriane Visart was a lawyer passionate about social justice and equality. Source: Supplied

Belgian lawyer Lauriane Visart, 27, was at the train station when the bombs went off.

Ms Visart’s father said she had “strong” values and defended fairness and equality with a “passion”.

Nic Coopman

49-year-old Nic Coopman was a controls specialist working in the Belgian office for an American manufacturing company.

It is believed he was waiting for a flight to Zurich when the bombs went off.

Other people missing or presumed dead:

Gilles Laurent

Brussels bombing victims
Gilles Laurent is suspected to have died during the metro blasts. Source: Supplied

Sound engineer Gilles Laurent was at the Maelbeek train station at the time of the attack.

Janina Panasewicz

Brussels bombing victims
Janina Panasewicz is still missing. Source: Supplied

Polish woman Janina Panasewicz has not been seen or heard from after the explosion at Maelbeek metro.

Aline Bastin

Brussels bombing victims
Friends of Aline Bastin have launched a social media search for clues to know if she is dead or alive. Source: Supplied

29-year-old Belgian Aline Bastin has been missing following the train explosion. Her friends have posted photos of her online in the hope for some answers.

Croation Dinko Malnar was flying from Montreal to Zagreb, and was in-transit at Brussels airport when the blasts struck.

Adeoba Moyo, Berit Viktorsson, Tito Garcia Ramone, and a man named a Gevaert – all from yet-to-be-verified nationalities – are also missing.

The Injured

More than 300 people were wounded in the triple bombings, all with varying degrees of severity in their injuries.

Brussels bombing victims
Survivor Sebastien Bellin immediately after the airport blasts. Source: Supplied

Brazilian Sebastien Bellin, a basketball player and father of two, was thrown two metres in the air by the blast – with shrapnel piercing his leg and hip.

Brussels bombing victims
Mason Wells (L) and Joseph Empey (R) were at the airport when the twin blasts went off. Source: Supplied

Mason Wells was one of four Mormon missionaries injured by the airport blast. The 19-year-old reportedly escaped injury from the Boston bombing in 2013, and was in Paris during the massacre last November.

Brussels bombing victims
Bombing survivor Fanny Clain says she holds no anger towards the attackers. Source: Supplied

20-year-old Belgian Fanny Clain was caught in the Zaventem airport blasts and suffered severe burns and shrapnel wounds.

She remains at an Antwerp hospital, but has said she holds no anger towards the attackers.


6 min read

Published

Updated

Source: SBS



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world