26 June, 2017
Belgium is now at its second highest level of security alert.
"We are not allowing ourselves to be intimidated by terrorists", he added.
On Monday, an armed man was killed in Paris after he rammed a auto loaded with weapons and explosives into a police convoy on the Champs-Élysées.
The suspect was known to police but had not been linked to terrorism, reports said.
While Tuesday's attack was foiled by the forces and no one was injured, in an attack that shook the country previous year in March, 32 civilians had lost their lives and many more were injured.
Molenbeek was the home and transit point for numerous suspects linked to attacks in Brussels and in Paris in November 2015. "Panic at Central Station". According to the broadcaster, the explosion was caused by the ignition of the explosive - the actual bomb did not go off. "Fortunately nobody was hurt", he said.
The man then left the burning suitcase and went down to the platform "in pursuit of the station master". Meanwhile, the bag exploded a second time more violently.
The 36-year-old was carrying two explosive devices in a bag - one of which he triggered - which also contained gas canisters and nails. The attacker was killed by soldiers after he charged at them, shouting "Allahu akbar", Arabic for "God is great". The soldier opened fire, killing the suspect.
The suspect was initially reported to have been wearing an explosive belt and had wires coming out of his clothes, according to some media, although police say they are unable to comment on the reports.
Meanwhile, Belgian media reported that the assailant lived in the largely immigrant Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek, a home and transit point for a number jihadis who carried out terror attacks in Brussels and Paris previous year.
The country's terror level remains at three, signifying a serious and likely threat.
Michel said more security measures would be put in place for large public events like the Coldplay concert at the King Baudouin stadium later on Wednesday.
Soldiers have been stationed at railway stations, government buildings and European Union institutions in Brussels since the aftermath of the Paris attacks when a link to Belgium was first established.
Rail company spokeswoman Elisa Roux said Tuesday evening that trains were diverted from the station and buses sent out to take passengers to the area.
Authorities said the attack in a crowded Brussels station could have been far worse if the explosives had fully detonated. Then people started to run away.
The country's law enforcement agencies and intelligence services came under intense scrutiny for apparently missing a series of leads after the Paris attacks that could have led to the Brussels bombers.
