Tuesday, March 22, 2016

TV news channels scramble to get to Brussels after horrific terror bomb attacks, as Sky News' Alex Rossi was at the airport buying chocolates for his kids for Easter.


Global TV news channels on Tuesday morning scrambled to dispatch reporters and anchors to Brussels, Belgium to get to the city and the Zaventem airport following the horrific twin terror bomb attacks in the airport's departure hall and at the nearby Maelbeek metro subway train station.

Sky News (DStv 402) reporter Alex Rossi was one of the first to report - right from inside the scene. He was at the airport with a Sky News crew ready to leave Belgium when the massive bomb blasts rocked the airport's departure area.

Alex Rossi got on his cellphone as the Sky News crew filmed, detailing what he saw and felt and said he "instinctively knew it was a terror attack".

Alex Rossi said he was buying chocolate for his kids for Easter when the two terrorist explosions rocked the airport.

Sky News anchors Kay Burley and Jeremy Thompson scrambled to get to Brussels, with Kay Burley anchoring from inside the city, and Jeremy Thompson from a highway opposite the airport during their timeslots. Mark Stone also reported from Brussels, as did Enda Brady.

CNN International (DStv 401) had its senior international correspondent Nima ElbagirChris BurnsFred Pleitgen and Hala Gorani reporting from inside Brussels, with Atika Shubert reporting from close to the airport. Michael Holmes and Nick Paton Walsh were also dispatched to Brussels.

MSNBC (StarSat 263) despatched reporters Thomas Roberts, Stephanie GoskChris Jansing, Erica Hill, Claudio LavangaKelly O'Donnell, Kelly Cobiella, Bill Neely, Ayman Mohyeldin, Chris Hayes, Keir Simmons and Cal Perry to Brussels.

Gabe Gutierrez was sent to Paris, France, as well as anchor Lester Holt. They will also report for the NBC Nightly News, seen on CNBC Africa (DStv 410).

CBS Evening News, seen on Sky News, is sending Allen Pizzey to Brussels and Holly Williams to Paris, with CBS News correspondent Charlie D’Agata who has been in Brussels already since Friday.

Fox News Channel (StarSat 261) is sending Greg Palkot to Brussels.

Bloomberg Television (DStv 411 / StarSat 264) sent correspondents Ryan Chilcote and Caroline Connan to Brussels.

BBC World News (DStv 400 / StarSat 256) switched to the BBC News domestic channel for coverage from inside Brussels.

Stephen Sackur reported from inside Brussels in the city from the heart of the European Union (EU) quarter, as well as with Ben Brown reporting from closer to the airport.

Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) had reporter Neave Barker reporting from close to the airport, with Paul Brennan reporting from inside the city.