The area around the station, itself, has been blocked off by police and people in the vicinity are being advised to be cautious but are not under a "lockdown," he added.

Maler, who works as a senior correspondent with the EU Business and Agriculture Intelligence Service (Agri Europe), said he first heard about the other attack on the Brussels airport, which killed at least 14 people, while on his way to work.

When he arrived, he learned of the explosion at the nearby train station.

"Today I biked to work but sometimes I take the metro and I would have been passing by the station around that time," he said.

"Thankfully, I didn't."

Maler said he's still grappling to process the scale of what happened.

"I'm fine but I'm extremely sad for all the people who lost their lives," he said.

"You never expect something like this to happen."

Machine guns in streets the norm

Former Calgarian Peeter Aitken co-owns a small bar in a pedestrian plaza one block away from Grand Place in Brussels, and said he plans to open as usual at 3 p.m.

"We decided that ... as long as they were familiar faces, and that we knew them, we would stay open for them," he said.

Aitken said the heightened police and military presence nearby makes him feel safer.

"It's nothing to walk around the corner in the street right downtown and walk right into three military army fatigues with machine guns walking towards you," he said.

"When you first saw them, you really couldn't keep your eyes off them. Now they're more of a relief that they're there for our protection."

Acts deemed 'cowardly' by politicians

In a statement, Premier Rachel Notley offered condolences and solidarity to the people of Belgium.

"Terrorizing innocent civilians is a cowardly act," she said.

"These unspeakable acts are fostering the opposite of their desired effect. As the world grapples with another senseless terror attack, our collective resolve to stand tall against terrorism only grows."

Similarly, Wildrose opposition leader Brian Jean said he was "horrified by the savage terrorist attacks in Brussels."

"Together we will stand against these cowardly acts of terror and show the strength of our resolve in our commitment to peace and unity."

Heightened security at YYC

No flights have been affected at Calgary International Airport as a result of the Brussels attacks, said a spokesperson in a statement.

"However we have increased our vigilance and we remain focused, as we are every day, on the safety and well-being of everyone at Calgary International Airport."