he Islamic State group has officially claimed responsibility for the Brussels attacks that killed at least 34 people and wounded about 170 more, according to Belgian media, and raised the reality of terror once again in the heart of Europe.

“We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters.

Belgian federal Prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw said late Tuesday morning that it was too soon to know exactly how many people died in the bombings.

Yet Belgian state broadcaster RTBF, citing emergency services, reported 20 dead at the Maelbeek metro station and 14 more killed at Brussels’ international airport.

After the blasts, Belgian authorities hit the streets looking for those tied to Tuesday’s carnage and who might launch more attacks.

Citing judicial sources, RTBF reported that raids were underway midday Tuesday around Brussels, targeting people linked to the attacks.

And at the international airport, a controlled explosion could be heard after troops zeroed in on a suspicious package, according to the Belgian crisis center.

While there’s been no official claim of responsibility, many prominent ISIS supporters celebrated Tuesday’s deadly terror attacks in Brussels on social media.

One widely circulated Twitter post among these ISIS backers featured the words, “What will be coming is worse.”

Terrorists say that they responded to Belgian participation in anti-terrorist operation.