Emmanuel Dunand, AFP | A woman places flowers at Brussels' international airport in Zaventem to mark the first anniversary of the Brussels terrorist attacks, on March 22, 2017

Belgian leaders, victims and families of those who died in the March 22 coordinated suicide bombings on the Brussels airport and subway marked Wednesday the first anniversary of the attacks that the killed 32 people.

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde joined Prime Minister Charles Michel at the airport, where two suicide bombers blew themselves up in the departure hall during the morning peak travel period on March 22, 2016.

Silence fell at 7:58am (0658 GMT), the exact time the airport attack began a year ago.

Airport staff, security and rescue personnel stood watch as King Philippe then laid a wreath outside the departure hall of the Belgian capital's Zaventem airport, where 16 people lost their lives.

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The names of those who died were read out solemnly, accompanied by a single cello.

Inside the departure hall, a large wreath lay in a cordoned-off area.

One of the survivors, Lars Waetzmann, held a speech, describing how the attacks had changed his life in both positive and negative ways.

“In a split second my world changed: From the excitement of going to New York together to the horror I found myself in. But in that very moment I also started seeing the best in mankind. In the middle of the chaos, a total stranger laid his jacket under my head and stayed by my side,” he said.

More than 300 people were wounded in the attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, but around 900 people now number themselves among the victims to have suffered physical or mental trauma.

1 year ago today… Remembering the victims of #BrusselsAttacks. Vile ISIS only knows how to murder. We know how to live together & thrive. pic.twitter.com/R9ZZ3Dft6f — Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) March 22, 2017 /844443123556241410">March 22, 2017 /844443123556241410">March 22, 2017

Commemorations are also taking place at the Maelbeek subway station, where 16 people were killed, and at a new memorial to be officially unveiled in the Belgian capital's European quarter.

Belgium has remained on its second-highest alert level since the bombings a year ago, meaning that the threat of an attack is possible and likely but not immediate. Soldiers continue to guard key buildings and transport links, and conduct random patrols in public areas.

One year after the horrific #BrusselsAttacks we remember & honour the victims. We stand together against terrorism. — Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) March 22, 2017

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP)

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