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A man said to be carrying a rucksack of explosives has been shot as 'explosions' were heard at Brussels Central Station, according to reports.

The Belgian capital's main station and the city's main square have been evacuated amid reports of two explosions and soldiers 'opening fire on a man'.

A suspected suicide bomber reportedly blew himself up this evening.

Belgian federal prosecutors said that an explosion set off by a man in the central station of Brussels was being considered as a terrorist attack.

Police sources reportedly said the attacker was seriously injured in the blast, but it remains unclear if the 'attacker' is still alive.

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) (Image: Photoshot/Avalon)

Federal prosecutors spokesman Eric Van der Sypt told reporters at a news conference near the station that he could not confirm if the 'attacker', who was shot by troops patrolling the station, was still alive, nor give any details about his identity.

He said: "At about 8.30 p.m. there was an explosion in the central station, relatively small in size. The suspected perpetrator was neutralised by the soldiers present.

"We cannot confirm if the man is still alive or dead. There were no further victims.

"We are considering this as a terrorist attack."

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

Shots rang out as police and soldiers moved in 'to neutralise a suspect who was threatening civilians' according to an investigating source.

The suspect was said to be wearing a rucksack packed with explosives around Belgium’s busiest railway station.

Tourists were among those who fled in panic, and within a few minutes nearby shops and restaurants were shutting down.

The Grand Place, the city’s most popular tourist spot, was completely evacuated because of fears that the man might not be acting alone.

(Image: EPA) (Image: EPA) (Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

"The attacker was shot several times, and it appears that he triggered a device," said the source.

Images shot at the scene showed an explosion, and what looked like an individual on fire.

Reports say the explosion happened on the mezzanine level of the station, and that the man went down to platforms three and four.

The Federal Police have reportedly confirmed a blast.

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP)

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Belgian police say soldiers guarding the station "neutralised" a person.

Emergency services were deployed and the situation is reportedly under control with no other casualties.

(Image: AFP) (Image: AFP) (Image: EPA) (Image: EPA)

The station and the central area of the city were packed with locals and tourists, out on a hot summer's evening.

A police spokesman said: "There was an accident at Central Station.

"There was an explosion around a person. That person was neutralised by the soldiers that were on the scene.

"At the moment, the police are in numbers at the station and everything is under control."

The Prime Minister, Charles Michel, has urged people to follow instructions from the authorities in a tweet.

The Prime Minister and the interior minister were in the national crisis centre monitoring developments.

The area is now said to be quiet, with police manning a cordon and a few bystanders calmly watching security forces at work.

(Image: AFP) (Image: Rex Features) (Image: EPA) (Image: Fabian318/Wikipedia)

Brussels has been on the highest state of alert for more than a year after a series of devastating attacks on its transport system in March 2016.

Three coordinated suicide bombings took place at the city’s airport and at the Maalbeek Metro station, with a total of 32 people killed, and 300 people injured.

Three terrorists linked to Islamic State died in the bloodbath, and all were linked to those who carried out another devastating attack on Paris in November 2015.