Diversified Communications, which operates Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the seafood trade show scheduled to take place in Brussels, Belgium from 26 to 28 April, announced it “is taking all necessary measures” to maximize the safety of the expo’s attendees following attacks in Brussels on Tuesday, 22 March.
Diversified Communications group vice president Liz Plizga expressed the company’s sorrow for the victims of the bombings and said the company is updating its security plan for the event.
“Diversified Communications and the entire Seafood Expo Global staff extend their deepest sympathy to the people affected by the recent tragedy in Brussels, Belgium,” Plizga said. “The safety of our participants is of the utmost importance and we are taking all necessary measures to ensure a safe environment during the upcoming exposition. For the past six months, we have been working on a very detailed security plan in cooperation with the City of Brussels, Brussels Expo and the Belgian authorities. In light of this morning's events, Belgium has issued a Level 4 alert, and Diversified Communications is reviewing the appropriate protocols related to today’s events with the city and the Belgian authorities.”
The attacks, which occurred at Brussels Airport, in the town of Zaventem, about 10 km outside of the city, and in the Maelbeek train station, which is located near the European Quarter of Brussels, killed at least 30 people and wounded more than 170.
Belgian authorities bolstered security after Tuesday's attacks, including shutting down all Brussels metro stations and evacuating the city's airport, according to CNN. The threat level in Brussels has been raised to its highest possible level, meaning border controls have been strengthened and extra police officers have been mobilized, according to Frédéric Van Leeuw, the Belgian federal prosecutor, who was cited in The New York Times article on the attacks.
The event website, http://www.seafoodexpo.com/global/, and SeafoodSource.com, which is owned by Diversified Communications, will be the official sources of information for updates concerning the expo. Updates will be posted on both sites at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and will include the latest information about the event and Diversified Communication’s ongoing plan to increase security measures. Those with specific questions about Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global can contact Diversified Communications directly at [email protected].
