Brussels: Two Americans confirmed among dead as John Kerry pays tribute

Mr Kerry visited the Belgian capital to pay his respects to those who were killed

Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski were among the 31 people killed (Facebook)

At least two American citizens were among those people killed in the attack on Brussels, it has been confirmed. Two Dutch citizens who lived in New York - brother and sister Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski - were also killed.

As US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Brussels to pay his condolences to the Belgian people, officials said on Froday that at least two of the 31 people killed were US citizens. They have not yet been publicly identified, though their families have been informed, the Associated Press said.

Speaking after meeting Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, Mr Kerry said: “The United States is praying and grieving with you for the loved ones of those cruelly taken from us, including Americans, and for the many who were injured in these despicable attacks.”

Mr Kerry paid his condolences to Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel (AP)

He did not give a specific number but the news agency said that a senior official said the families of two Americans had been informed of their deaths in Tuesday's attacks.

The family of Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski said in a statement that their deaths had been confirmed. Mr Pinczowski was engaged to the daughter of James Cain, a former US ambassador to Denmark

“We received confirmation this morning from Belgian Authorities and the Dutch Embassy of the positive identification of the remains of Alexander and Sascha,” it said,

A minute's silence is observed at Place de la Bourse in central Brussels (EPA)

“We are grateful to have closure on this tragic situation, and are thankful for the thoughts and prayers from all. The family is in the process of making arrangements.”

Speaking earlier, Mr Kerry added: “The United States stands firmly with Belgium and with the nations of Europe in the face of this tragedy. We - all of us representing countless nationalities - have a message for those who inspired or carried out the attacks here or in Paris, or Ankara, or Tunis, or San Bernardino, or elsewhere - we will not be intimidated.

“We will not be deterred. We will come back with greater resolve - with greater strength - and we will not rest until we have eliminated your nihilistic beliefs and cowardice from the face of the Earth.”

Mr Kerry also paid tribute to an American doctor and her friend, who were at the airport when the attackers struck and who went to help.

“The hardest point for me was that I had never seen a mass casualty situation and it felt a little bit overwhelming at first,” Dr Laura Billiet, told CNN.