A WOMAN from the North-East who works in Brussels has told how she narrowly avoided being caught up in today’s terrorist attacks.

Emily Barker, who regularly uses the Metro station targeted by terrorists, decided not to go to her office near Maelbeek station, where there was a massive explosion at around 8am.

It is thought the blast killed 20 people and wounded over 100.

She said she could easily have being using the station when the bomb went off, but had decided to change her plans.

At least 34 people are dead and many more injured after co-ordinated attacks on the main airport and the Metro system in the Belgian capital.

Ms Barker, 28, from Greenside, near Gateshead, works as a communication's officer at the European Centre for Development Policy Management, said: “I get that Metro from my house at about that time in the morning so it is scary to think of.

“I just happened to work from home because of various circumstances.

“Everyone is scared because you don’t expect this kind of thing is going to happen, even though there was heightened security you don’t think anything like this is going to happen.”