Show Notes
Reporters typically arrive to the scene of a major news story after the event. But on March 22, 2016, Sky News National Correspondent, Alex Rossi, was in the Duty Free at Brussels Airport when ISIS terrorists detonated two bombs in the departures lounge. Just metres from where he was stood only moments earlier, people now lay dead. Among those severely injured was Sebastien Bellin, a former Belgian basketball player. Just months before, in November 2015, ISIS had attacked Paris, killing 130 people. Because of the nature of that attack, both men now expected more bombs and further deaths. Within an hour, another bomb was detonated on the Metro in central Brussels. Amidst the confusion, Alex Rossi began to document, live on Sky News, the terrifying unfolding situation inside the airport. What he had no understanding of at that time was the devastation inside the departure lounge, where Sebastien Bellin lay stricken. Revisiting their respective experiences in depth this podcast is a graphic account of the attack on Brussels - which claimed 32 lives - from the perspective of both men.
CREDITS
Terror in Brussels Airport was recorded by Tom Gillespie. Production, writing and sound design by Rob Mulhern Special thanks to our contributors, Sebastien Bellin and Alex Rossi Archive, Simon Windsor TV treatment, Gemma Watson TV output editor, Emily Deeker Digital, Tom Gillespie Head of Radio, Sky News, Dave Terris Design and graphics, Brian Gillingham Social media, Chris Scott Press and Marketing, Alexandra Horton Email: [email protected] For more on this story log on to www.skynews/storycast21 #StoryCast21
More from Russell Brand: On Trial
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand, as the family and friends of a woman who accuses him of rape in 2009 give evidence. The woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. Her friends, family and colleagues have given their accounts of what she’d told them - including that she’d been "humiliated, scared, violated and in pain" after the alleged rape. The defence cross-examined witnesses including the ex-boyfriend of the accuser, who they claimed had given conflicting statements to the police and the court. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the case against Russell Brand as a third woman who has accused him of rape continues giving evidence and is cross-examined. The woman alleges she had consensual vaginal sex with Russell Brand at his home, before he anally raped her. She said, ‘I felt completely degraded and like I'd been treated like an animal, like a piece of meat’. During cross-examination Ian Winter KC, for the defence, brought up conflicting accounts in her story as she shared it over the years. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more of the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a third woman accuses him of rape and two more women allege he sexually assaulted them. One woman claims she was anally raped by the comedian at his home. She said that when she asked him to stop, he continued and she said she was in pain and couldn't speak or breathe. The court also heard from two more women who allege that Brand sexually assaulted them, both in their workplaces. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected].
Warning: This episode contains graphic descriptions of alleged rape and sexual assault. Sky News' Martin Brunt and Katie Spencer report more from the prosecution case against Russell Brand as a second woman accuses him of rape. She alleged that within a minute of meeting her in 2004, Russell Brand grabbed her breasts, then dragged her into a Soho bar toilet and orally raped her, afterwards saying “I guess we should swap numbers now”. Brand’s defence barrister questioned why she did not report the allegation until 2023. The woman said she was afraid she would not be believed. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast [email protected]
Today, a second alleged victim took the stand in Russell Brand’s trial. She told the court Brand grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into a toilet, but she pulled away saying “are you mad?”. He allegedly turned from being “jovial” to a “wild eyed maniac”. Sky News’ Katie Spencer and Martin Brunt were in court for heated exchanges as Brand’s defence barrister challenged the woman. Brand faces three counts of rape, three of sexual assault and one of indecent assault. He denies all the charges. Email the podcast: [email protected]