Brussels attacks: my narrow escape

Brussels attacks: my narrow escape

23 March 2016

A DOWNPATRICK man has spoken of his relief after narrowly missing yesterday’s carnage in Brussels.

Barry Magee, who has been working in the European capital for five years, said he felt incredibly lucky that an unusually late start meant he was not on his usual metro train to work.

He said he was horrified to hear that the underground line he normally travels on his commute to the city’s European quarter had been targeted by terrorists, killing at least 20 people.

Relieved that an unexpected change of routine may have saved his life, he said he was also shocked and sad that so many people had died in two separate attacks in the city, including the loss of at least 13 lives in a double explosion in Brussels airport.

Speaking from his city centre apartment where he has remained since news of the attacks broke, Barry said he could sense rising tension in the city as the day unfolded.

Living near the city’s main railway station, he said sirens had wailed outside most of the day, while friends were in regular contact, checking the whereabouts of loved ones.

Due to return to Downpatrick tomorrow for an Easter break with his family, the 33 year-old communication advisor said he was keen to get home as soon as possible but doubtful about travel.

Barry said he felt particularly unnerved that a more relaxed working week due to the approach of the Easter holidays meant he was due to leave for work slightly later than normal.

He said he was thankful he checked his Facebook account before leaving his apartment, hearing the first unconfirmed reports of the airport explosions.

“I telephoned my boss straight away and said I would work from home as I wasn’t keen on getting the metro because of the stories emerging,” he said.

“I was so shocked then to hear that there was a bomb at Maalbeek station, which is normally the last station I would have passed through at that time to get to work.

“I am very relieved, I could so easily have been there if I had not been running a bit late. On a regular morning I would most likely have been caught up in the attack.

“I am also so glad I saw the news report before my mum did so I was able to phone her to say I was OK before she started to worry.”

Barry said it felt surreal to be experiencing a second lock-down in the city in five months. In November he followed government advice to stay indoors for five days amid warnings of an imminent terrorist attack.

Although he said life got back to relative normality a few weeks after that incident, he said there was still an increased police presence in the city, particularly in the European quarter where he works.

He said he did not believe city life would return to normal as quickly this time and could not personally envisage using the metro for the next few months.

“The while situation feels a bit crazy and I can imagine outside is crazy but I won’t go out to see,” he said.

“The general advice is to stay at home and I do not want to take a risk particularly as I live near the city’s main train station which could be a target. I have everything I need here for now.

“People are either at home or at work but they are staying where they are. All the transport networks are closed down.

“I suppose until now Brussels has been lucky to have escaped big terrorist attacks like London and Paris. So while it is not massively surprising that this has happened it is still such a shock and so sad.

“It is so sad for those who lost their lives and also for the many injured who have been through such a trauma.”