A WELSH MEP has said he feels “a bit of relief” after narrowly avoiding one of the terrorist attacks in Brussels last week.

Derek Vaughan MEP, who was in Aberystwyth last month visiting the university’s under-construction Innovation and Enterprise campus in Gogerddan, is one of four politicians who represent Wales at the European Parliament in the Belgian capital.

Speaking to the Cambrian News this week, Mr Vaughan said he walked past Maelbeek metro station just 20 minutes before the bomb was detonated, killing 20 and injuring 106 others.

Mr Vaughan said: “I came in early this morning and went past Maelbeek metro station about 20 minutes before there was an explosion there.

“We didn’t hear the explosions because the airport is about 10 or 11km away and we were all in meetings when the metro station was attacked.

“Since then, the European Parliament has been locked down with no visitors coming in, meetings cancelled, and nobody allowed to leave.

“Most of the city has been on lock-down with nobody walking in the streets, no cars on the roads and all public transport stopped.”

But Mr Vaughan said he was feeling more sad and angry about the attacks rather than relieved he narrowly escaped being hurt.

“This was a despicable act of barbarism and my thoughts have been very much with the victims and their families,” said Mr Vaughan.

“I feel a bit of relief but my thoughts are with those who weren’t so lucky.”