Brussels:A bomb exploded at the Brussels Institute of Criminology in the north of Brussels on Monday but the building was empty and no one was wounded, broadcaster RTL said.

A car rammed through the barriers at about 3am local time and one or more attackers exploded a bomb near the laboratories which caught fire, RTL said.Police have deployed in force and sealed off the area.

The institute assists and advises Belgium’s justice authorities in carrying out their inquiries.

Belgium has been on high alert since a March 22 attack on the Brussels airport and subway killed 32 people.