BRUSSELS ATTACKS: ISIS warns attack against Britain will be ‘harder and more bitter’

INHUMAN Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the Brussels terror attacks as it warned there will be “dark days” if the West retaliates.

A total of 34 people have died and 230 injured in blasts at Brussels airport and on a rush-hour metro train in the Belgian capital on Tuesday morning.

It took about eight hours for the terror group to claim responsibility, although European officials said early on they believed ISIS was behind the horror attacks.

In a statement, written in French, released just before 5pm GMT, the twisted group said it took responsibility for the Brussels blasts and claimed 40 people had died and 210 injured thanks to a “secret cell” of soldiers of the Caliphate.

The jihadis then released a terrifying warning against all countries fighting against ISIS in the Middle East.

It said: “We promise the crusader allies against the Islamic State, there will be dark days in response to their aggression against our state.

“And what awaits you will be harder and more bitter, with the permission of Allah.”

They then praised Allah for their attacks being so “precise” and asked him to accept the suicide bombers as martyrs.

Belgium, home to the European Union and the headquarters of the NATO military alliance, has sent warplanes to take part in operations against Islamic State in the Middle East.

The attacks came four days after the arrest in Brussels of Salah Abdeslam who is suspected of being involved in November’s Paris massacre which left 130 people dead and more than 300 injured.

Abdeslam’s accomplice, Najim Laacheaoui, who was hiding with the Paris terrorist in the Brussels district of Molenbeek, is still on the run.

Belgium's Interior Minister, Jan Jambon, said on Monday the country was on high alert for a revenge attack.

The warning from ISIS comes as Belgian police issued a wanted notice for a young man pictured pushing a laden luggage trolley at Brussels airport.

Two other men were later arrested a mile away from the Maelbeek metro station at around 11am, some two hours after the blasts tore the train apart.

Several people are still trapped in the Maelbeek metro station, confirmed Belgian health minister Maggie De Block.

A Belgian news agency also reported witnesses had said they heard gunshots and shouts of Arabic at the time of the airport explosions.

Two kalashnikov assault rifles were also found in the airport lounge.

A spokesman for David Cameron confirmed a UK national is among the injured and advised Britons to avoid all but essential travel to Brussels.

Weapons have been found at the blast site at Zaventem airport, according to a Belgian news agency. The information has not yet been confirmed by an official source.

Three explosive devices have been recovered at the airport, including a suicide belt which failed to detonate, according to Belgian media.

A third bomb found at the airport was destroyed by security services, the Brussels provincial governor said.

US President Barack Obama led calls of support to Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel after Brussels went into a state of virtual lock-down.

Speaking at a news conference in Cuba, he said: ”We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism.

”We can and we will defeat those who threaten the safety and security of people all around the world."

Michel spoke at a Brussels news conference of a "black moment" for his country. "What we had feared has come to pass."

All public transport in Brussels has ben closed down and will remain closed on Wednesday.

Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands have announced extra security measures at borders and airports, with trains to Belgium, including the Eurostar from London cancelled until further notice.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron advised British citizens to avoid all but essential travel to Brussels.

French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, said: “We are at war and we have been subjected to acts of war in Europe for the last few months.”