As most of you have probably heard by now, today Liège experienced a pretty devastating attack that left 4 dead and 75 injured. Although the details seem to keep changing ever few minutes and there is no consensus between news sources, the CBC story is the most accurate as far as details I have learned. Read the story and see the pictures for yourself.
CBC - Belgian Grenade Attack
As far as I know, everyone I know is safe and sound. A friend of mine was working out in a gym that is located just 50m away from where the attack occurred but otherwise it appears most people were still at the university or safely at their homes.
My apartment is just far enough away and on a loud enough street that I didn't hear the grenades or the gunfire. Kiersten could hear the gunfire though and we all bore witness to the dozens and dozens of emergency vehicles. My street got overwhelmed with rerouted vehicles as the Liège police shut down the city center.
I think about all the times I've walked through that area and just feel a chill run down my spine. In fact, I was there yesterday at the exact time the attacks happened today. Oi.
Yesterday Max and I had made plans to short cut across Place Saint Lambert today to go do interval training on the Montagne de Bueren. He got delayed this morning and our time got pushed back to 1:30 pm as a result. Our original running time would have put us within the same hour as the attacks. I reiterate - Oi.
Enough close calls really makes you wonder when your time is coming.
Here is my relative location to everything that happened today:
- The grenade attacks happened at Point C - Place Saint Lambert which is 1.3 km (10 minute walk) away.
- Rumors said that gunfire occurred at Point B - Place Saint Paul which is 600 m (4 minute walk) away.
 |
| Note the scale and how zoomed in we are... |
Love to each and every one of you,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline, yes, we had a few very tense hours at home before we got word from Kevin that he was OK. That's when I MOST missed a cell phone call or text. I'm glad that no exchange students were injured -- such a shame that anyone was injured or lost. I'm sure that is one European experience you would rather have not had. Thanks for telling the story from your view. So you are going home soon? :( I'll bet your family is happy! Take care ~ Pat Sweet
ReplyDelete