BREAKING! Bomb blast hits Brussels Institute of Criminology

A bomb has gone off at the Brussels Institute of Criminology, without causing casualties, Belgian media say.

Right before 02:30 local time (00:30 GMT), a car rammed through three fences, RTL Belgium reports.

“One or more” defendants then allegedly detonated a bomb near the laboratories.

The independent institute, linked to the federal justice body of Belgium, is in Neder-Over-Hembeek, a suburb north of Brussels.

Scientific analysis linked to criminal cases is performed at the site.

It is unclear what happened to the suspects behind the blast, which Belgian media said had caused “major” damage.