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Belgian police arrest 16 terror suspects after raids across country Belgian police arrest 16 terror suspects after raids across country
(about 1 hour later)
Belgian armed police have arrested at least 16 suspects in 19 raids across the country, after the prime minister announced another day of lockdown in Brussels over fears that a Paris-style mass attack may be imminent. Belgian armed police have launched a series of armed raids across the country after the prime minister announced another day of lockdown in Brussels over fears that a Paris-style mass attack may be imminent.
Armed police mounted searches in several parts of the capital on Sunday evening and cordoned off areas close to the main tourist attraction, the Renaissance Grand Place around the town hall. There were also raids near Liège in the east and Charleroi, south of Brussels. Helicopters could be heard flying over the city. Police evacuated restaurants in the centre, blocked off roads and called on residents to stay away from windows. Officials said they arrested at least 16 suspects in 19 raids late on Sunday night. However they are still searching for Salah Abdeslam, the 26-year-old French suspect believed to have played a key role in the terrorist attacks in Paris 10 days ago, after he evaded the major police dragnet.
Other raids took place in Molenbeek, a borough of Brussels where Abdeslam lived, and in Charleroi, where one man was taken into custody. A further operation took place in Liège, 75 miles (120 km) east of Brussels. No weapons or explosives were found during the raids, and the failure to capture Abdeslam will further undermine wavering confidence in the competence of Belgium’s counter-terrorist agencies.
In a brief press conference early on Monday morning local time, Belgium’s public prosecutor announced that the police had made 16 arrests during the raids, but said that 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam was not among those detained. Abdeslam is believed to have played a role in the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris nine days ago. The raids came hours after the prime minister, Charles Michel, announced reinforced security measures and a third day of lockdown in the capital. All schools in Brussels have been shut as a precaution and the city’s metro suspended, prompting predictions of chaos as the working week begins on Monday.
Europe’s de facto capital faces an unprecedented security lockdown this week after Belgian authorities imposed a slew of safety-first measures to prevent a “serious and imminent” terrorist attack. Much of the historic centre of Brussels, the de facto capital of Europe, was cordoned off as armed police – backed by soldiers – moved in on Sunday night. Helicopters could be heard flying over the capital.
Schools, universities and kindergartens will be shut on Monday and the metro, shuttered all weekend, will remain closed, as counter-terrorist forces intensify their search for a network of Islamist militants involved in the Paris attacks. Police evacuated restaurants in the centre, blocked off roads and called on residents to stay away from windows. The public prosecutor said there were also raids near Liège in the east and Charleroi, south of Brussels.
Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, told a tense press conference on Sunday afternoon: “We still fear attacks here like those that occurred in Paris, involving several individuals striking simultaneously in several places,” adding that there were “indications” that transport systems, commercial centres, shopping streets and busy places were targets. Other raids took place in Molenbeek, a run-down borough of Brussels where Abdeslam lived, and in Charleroi, where one man was taken into custody. A further operation took place in Liège, 75 miles (120km) east of Brussels.
According to one unconfirmed local press report, Abdeslam broke through a police cordon near Liège at the wheel of a luxury car.
Authorities said the unprecedented security lockdown this week was necessary to prevent a “serious and imminent” terrorist attack.
At least three of the nine men suspected of carrying out the Paris attacks were based in Brussels. Two men were held by Belgian authorities last week on suspicion of picking Abdeslam up in the French capital and driving him back to Belgium after the attacks, which killed 130 and injured hundreds more.
Michel told a tense press conference on Sunday afternoon: “We still fear attacks here ... involving several individuals striking simultaneously in several places,” adding that there were “indications” that transport systems, commercial centres, shopping streets and busy places were targets.
“We realise that these measures will complicate economic and professional life … and we are doing everything we can to return to normality as soon as possible,” Michel told reporters.“We realise that these measures will complicate economic and professional life … and we are doing everything we can to return to normality as soon as possible,” Michel told reporters.
He spoke after the government raised the threat level in and around Brussels to four – the highest level – and deployed hundreds of troops to supplement armed local police. On Saturday the government raised the threat level in and around Brussels to four – the highest level – and deployed hundreds of troops to supplement armed local police.
European Union institutions will remain open, although with extra security checks, a spokesman said. Officials are expected to issue fresh guidance on further measures, a spokesman for the European commission said late on Sunday. European Union institutions will remain open, although with extra security checks, a spokesman said.
Officials have also confirmed that nursery schools will be closed on Monday, adding to the chaos that many are predicting for the Belgian capital as the working week begins. The minister of education, Joëlle Milquet, said the closure of all educational institutions could be extended beyond 24 hours.
The minister of education, Joëlle Milquet, said the closure of all educational institutions could be extended beyond 24 hours. “You do not mess around with the security of children and students ... This was the only sure measure of protection which we could take,” she told local TV networks. Related: National emergency? Belgians respond to terror raids with cats
Shops and restaurants remained shut during the day on Sunday in Brussels with few locals in the streets. Museums and cinemas were also closed. Prospects for Britain’s Davis Cup tennis clash with Belgium on Friday going ahead appeared slim. “You do not mess around with the security of children and students ... This was the only sure measure of protection that we could take,” she told local TV networks.
Many shops and restaurants remained shut during the day on Sunday in Brussels with few locals in the streets. Museums and cinemas were also closed. Prospects for Britain’s Davis Cup tennis clash with Belgium on Friday going ahead appeared slim.
“We’ve never had this kind of terrorist threat here before. It’s very unexpected, almost surreal,” said Alinka Le Comte, 26, a shop assistant in the centre of the city.“We’ve never had this kind of terrorist threat here before. It’s very unexpected, almost surreal,” said Alinka Le Comte, 26, a shop assistant in the centre of the city.
Earlier in the day tourists continued to throng sights such as the city’s main square. “It is reassuring to see the police. We are concerned but not frightened,” said Emilio Bravo, who had travelled to Brussels from Alicante, Spain. Earlier in the day tourists continued to throng sights such as the city’s main square.
“It is reassuring to see the police. We are concerned but not frightened,” said Emilio Bravo, who had travelled to Brussels from Alicante, Spain.
However, the Sunday morning market at the city’s Eurostar terminal Gare du Midi – one of the biggest outdoor markets in Europe – was called off. Busy trains from Paris were subject to extra security measures.However, the Sunday morning market at the city’s Eurostar terminal Gare du Midi – one of the biggest outdoor markets in Europe – was called off. Busy trains from Paris were subject to extra security measures.
The Belgian interior minister, Jan Jambon, said “several suspects” tied to the Paris attacks could be at large in the country, amid speculation that a series of cells may be planning further strikes in the heart of the European Union. A meeting of security agencies and senior ministers was held on Sunday afternoon to decide whether the metro will be allowed to function on Monday morning when the working week starts. Some security measures may be relaxed or stiffened after a review on Monday afternoon depending on inputs from counter-terrorist agencies, officials said.
Other measures may be relaxed, or stiffened, depending on inputs from counter terrorist agencies, officials said. “We are clearly dealing with intelligent individuals who can change their targets and tactics depending on what we do ... So all this could take a certain time, that’s obvious,” Koen Geens, the justice minister, told a local TV network.
Many in Belgian’s Muslim community, which numbers around 600,000, fear a backlash as tensions continue.Many in Belgian’s Muslim community, which numbers around 600,000, fear a backlash as tensions continue.
“We are very happy to see the searches and hear about the arrests,” said Dekhili Marouan, a 35-year-old catering worker who arrived in Belgium from Tunisia five years ago. “It’s frightening for everybody. I’m worried too about people here blaming all of us Muslims for this. These people who do this kind of violence, they are not Muslims.”“We are very happy to see the searches and hear about the arrests,” said Dekhili Marouan, a 35-year-old catering worker who arrived in Belgium from Tunisia five years ago. “It’s frightening for everybody. I’m worried too about people here blaming all of us Muslims for this. These people who do this kind of violence, they are not Muslims.”
Belgian officials have rejected widespread criticism of the country’s intelligence services and counter-terror efforts. But the news that a Belgian man suspected of undertaking reconnaissancefor the Paris attacks’ targets has been held by Turkish police has underlined the country’s role as a base for those behind the plot. Belgian officials have rejected widespread criticism of the country’s intelligence services and counter-terror efforts.
Belgium reportedly supplies more foreign fighters to Syria than any other EU country in per capita terms. Many have come from Molenbeek, a run-down Brussels borough with a large Muslim community that has long been a concern. But the news that a Belgian man suspected of undertaking reconnaissance for the Paris attacks’ targets has been held by Turkish police has underlined the country’s role as a base for those behind the plot.
Speaking to Belgian TV on Saturday night, Carine Coquelet, the lawyer of one of the two men detained in Brussels last week, said her client admitted picking up Abdeslam in Paris shortly after the terrorist strike there and driving him back to Brussels. She said that Abdesalam may have been wearing a belt of explosives under a coat. Belgium reportedly supplies more foreign fighters to Syria than any other EU country in per capita terms. Many have come from Molenbeek, the Brussels borough with a large Muslim community that has long been a concern.
The US embassy in Brussels advised Americans to cancel their weekend plans and stay indoors. The Foreign Office delivered similar advice for the high numbers of Britons in Brussels, which is also home to the Nato headquarters. Carine Coquelet, the lawyer of one of the two men detained in Belgum last week, said her client admitted picking up Abdeslam in Paris shortly after the terrorist strike there and driving him back to Brussels. She said that Abdesalam may have been wearing a belt of explosives under a coat.
Geens, the justice minister, said that the Paris attacks had shown that the profile of potential targets had changed. Koen Geens, the justice minister, said that the Paris attacks had shown that the profile of potential targets had changed.
“It’s no longer synagogues or the Jewish museums or police stations, it’s mass gatherings and public places.”“It’s no longer synagogues or the Jewish museums or police stations, it’s mass gatherings and public places.”