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Brussels Airport to Partially Reopen Sunday


FILE - Broken windows are seen at the scene of explosions at the Brussels airport, Belgium, March 22, 2016.
FILE - Broken windows are seen at the scene of explosions at the Brussels airport, Belgium, March 22, 2016.

Belgian officials say they expect the Brussels airport, closed since the March 22 terrorist bombings, to partially reopen Sunday with much tighter security.

The government reached a deal with the police unions late Friday after they threatened to strike unless certain security measures were taken.

Belgian police have complained about what they say has been lax security at the airport.

Union leaders demanded that all passengers go through security checks outside the temporary check-in area. But airport operators said this would create very long lines and set up an easy target for another terrorist attack.

Under the agreement, passengers and others will be checked before entering the airport zone itself.

Even when the airport reopens, it will be operating only at 20 percent capacity with a temporary check-in area.

One of two airport suicide bombers destroyed the regular departure hall March 22, while a third bomber blew himself up at a Brussels subway station. Thirty-two people were killed.

More than 2,000 mourners packed a Brussels mosque Friday for the funeral of one of the terrorist victims, Loubna Lafquiri. The young gymnastics teacher and mother of three was killed at the metro station.

Some of the mourners say they attended her funeral as a sign of solidarity with the victims of all faiths.

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