A Belgian chef who has lived and worked in Chester said it was ‘heartbreaking’ to see events unfolding in his home city of Brussels.
Juan Astillero also said he was due to take his daughter to Belgium over the Easter holidays.
Juan, who used to live in Hoole and work at The Faulkner as head chef, grew up in the Molenbeek area of the city.
Explosions have been reported at Brussels Zaventem Airport and at the Maelbeek subway station on Tuesday (March 22), with the final death toll not yet known.
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He said: “It’s difficult being so far away. I first found out over Facebook this morning and have been following the news since.
“It was wonderful to grow up in Brussels, it’s a wonderful city, so when you see things like this it’s just heartbreaking.
“My friends and family are OK, but it’s hard when you can’t see them. My brother was going to work on the underground.”
The arrest of Salah Abdeslam, a terror suspect in the Paris bombings which left 130 people dead last November, in Brussels last week had heightened fears a further attack was coming.
Reports of explosions at the airport emerged shortly after 8am local time (7am GMT) with the following blast at the metro station an our later.
Belgium’s terror threat has been raised to the maximum with the city at a standstill, all flights in and out of Brussels have been postponed.
Juan, who first moved to Chester 20 years ago and now lives in West Kirby, said an attack ‘had been coming’.
He said: “Last time I was there it was maximum security, tensions have been high for months.
“There are wonderful communities in Brussels, but it’s just shocking. I was planning to take my daughter there over the Easter break.”
If you are worried about any friends or family in Brussels, advice has been issued to call the Foreign Office on +442070080000.
