Two Americans confirmed to be victims in Brussels attacks

WTKR.com ^ | March 25, 2016

[KeyLargo]

Two Americans confirmed to be victims in Brussels attacks Posted 7:13 am, March 25, 2016, by CNN Wire

This was the news the family of Alexander and Sascha Pinczowski hoped would never come.

The siblings were in the Delta ticket line at the Brussels Airport to check in for their flight to New York. Alexander was talking to his mother on the phone when the line went dead. They haven’t been heard from since.

Nearly three agonizing days later, word came from Belgian authorities at Astrid Hospital in Brussels. It was a list of the remaining victims who were still alive.

“Sadly, our beloved Alexander and Sascha were not among them,” the family said in a statement Thursday. “We ask for continued prayers and privacy during this time of grieving as we await final closure.”

At least 31 people were killed and about 300 wounded in Tuesday’s attacks at the airport and a subway, authorities say. The victims span 40 nationalities.

Americans were among the dead, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry confirmed Friday during a visit to Brussels. He didn’t say how many or identify them, but a U.S. official traveling with Kerry said two Americans died.

The stories of many of the victims are emerging as loved ones struggle to know more.

[KeyLargo]

Identifying bomb victims proves to be difficult, Belgian investigators say

CNN.com

Identification is proving especially difficult because many of the bodies are not intact, Red Cross Belgium spokeswoman An Luyten told CNN.

Those individual parts need to be identified and then "reassociated" with the rest of the body, according to Victor Weedn, chairman of the Department of Forensic Sciences at Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. Authorities may not release the bodies to the families until all of the remains have been positively identified, he said.

The types of injuries on the Brussels bombings are rarely seen outside of combat. Belgian Health Minister Maggie De Block has described the scene as a war zone.

[nuconvert]

There’s another American couple missing. I assume they will be added to the list of those killed, also.

[Stevenc131]

Obama was enjoying posing in front of Che Guevara murals in Cuba and dancing the tango in Argentina, so there’s always a silver lining.

[pgkdan]

Heart breaking. I can’t imagine losing two children like this. Prayers for the family.

[albie]

And the press is ok with zero bowing to commies and cha cha ing the night away. Needless to say, if this were Bush or Reagan, impeachment hearings would’ve already been held.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Que up James Taylor again.

[twister881]

And doing the wave with deputy dictator Raoul Castro at the beso-ball game.

[KeyLargo]

[SueRae]

Me too.

I can’t imagine the horror of those parents and what they’re going through. Trump is proactive. Unafraid to call it out.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

[HiTech RedNeck]

Obama danced when Brussels was blasted.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I’ve taken some theological flak for this...

But I got to say it.

The very worst hell isn’t even hot.

It’s cold.

The fire part comes from God. But the cold part comes from the devil. And oh, how cold numbs us.

That’s how it is possible for Barack to boogie the night away after Belgium. I have to hand something even to Jimmy Carter, at least he cared in some way when a tragic event engulfed Americans. Barack can’t even call his dance off, it’s all about him him him.

And for those who are hooting at Donald that it’s “all about Trump”? Just watch what he does in the face of a crisis. See if it puts the lie to that idea. We’re watching what “all about the politician” looks like right now, and Trump isn’t doing that.

[KeyLargo]

"There’s another American couple missing. I assume they will be added to the list of those killed, also."

NBCNEWS.COM

Justin and Stephanie Shults live in Brussels and were dropping her mom off at the airport when the attack happened. Family Photo

In a statement issued through the office of Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the couple's families later said that "neither Belgium nor U.S. officials have confirmed that Justin and Stephanie Shults have been located."

About a dozen Americans were injured in the bombings, according to the State Department, leading one lawmaker to suggest an American counter at the airport was targeted.

"From my vantage point, it does look like an attack on Americans," California Rep. Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said Wednesday.

[trisham]

I feel so sorry for their parents. The grief that they must be feeling has to be devastating.

[trisham]

So young.

[KeyLargo]

While Obama Played: Two Americans Confirmed Dead in Brussels

[HiTech RedNeck]

Hoping they allowed God to take them to heaven.

The beauty in this world is at best only a small, clouded peek at the beauty of heaven.

[trisham]

I hope that they didn’t suffer. I hope that their parents believe that they didn’t suffer.

[KeyLargo]

"So young."

Alexander Pinczowski and his sister Sascha.