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| Belgium arrests 12 in counter-terrorism raids | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Police in Belgium have made 12 arrests in a huge anti-terrorism operation, nearly three months after the deadly bomb attacks on Brussels. | |
| Those detained overnight are suspected of plotting a terrorist attack, prosecutors say. They were among 40 taken in for questioning. | Those detained overnight are suspected of plotting a terrorist attack, prosecutors say. They were among 40 taken in for questioning. |
| Searches were conducted in 16 municipalities, mainly around Brussels, with checks on 152 lock-up garages. | Searches were conducted in 16 municipalities, mainly around Brussels, with checks on 152 lock-up garages. |
| PM Charles Michel said security would be stepped up at public events. | |
| He tweeted (in French) after a meeting of the Belgian security council to say events would go ahead as planned and he urged the public to remain calm. | |
| According to a report by public broadcaster RTBF (in French), terrorism suspects were seen driving on Friday near a fan zone in central Brussels, where Saturday's Euro 2016 match between Belgium and the Republic of Ireland is due to be relayed from France by giant screen. | |
| On 22 March, bombs killed 32 people at a Brussels airport and a metro station. | On 22 March, bombs killed 32 people at a Brussels airport and a metro station. |
| Protection for ministers | |
| No arms or explosives were found during the searches, which passed off without incident, Belgium's federal prosecutor said in a statement. | No arms or explosives were found during the searches, which passed off without incident, Belgium's federal prosecutor said in a statement. |
| Among the areas where searches took place was Molenbeek, a Brussels district which has become notorious because of its associations with jihadists. | Among the areas where searches took place was Molenbeek, a Brussels district which has become notorious because of its associations with jihadists. |
| The federal prosecutor said the operation had been launched after investigations which "necessitated an immediate intervention". | The federal prosecutor said the operation had been launched after investigations which "necessitated an immediate intervention". |
| However, the Belgian government has not raised the threat level. | However, the Belgian government has not raised the threat level. |
| There were several warnings of further attacks in recent days. | |
| On Friday evening, four federal ministers including Mr Michel were placed under heightened police protection along with their families, Belgian media report. | |
| Belgian police are said to have recently received a warning that a group of militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group had left Syria en route for Europe, planning new attacks in Belgium and France. | Belgian police are said to have recently received a warning that a group of militants from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group had left Syria en route for Europe, planning new attacks in Belgium and France. |
| An unnamed security source was quoted by Belgian newspaper DH (in French) on Wednesday as saying the group had "left Syria about a week-and-a-half ago aiming to reach Europe via Turkey and Greece by boat without passports". | An unnamed security source was quoted by Belgian newspaper DH (in French) on Wednesday as saying the group had "left Syria about a week-and-a-half ago aiming to reach Europe via Turkey and Greece by boat without passports". |
| Meanwhile, a Belgian national named as Youssef EA was arrested on Friday and charged on suspicion of terrorist activities in connection with the March attacks, which were claimed by IS. | Meanwhile, a Belgian national named as Youssef EA was arrested on Friday and charged on suspicion of terrorist activities in connection with the March attacks, which were claimed by IS. |
| Belgian media report that he is the eighth person to have been charged over the attacks, which were carried out by three suicide bombers. | Belgian media report that he is the eighth person to have been charged over the attacks, which were carried out by three suicide bombers. |
| Investigators have established connections between the Brussels bombers and the IS attacks on Paris on 13 November, in which 130 people were killed. | Investigators have established connections between the Brussels bombers and the IS attacks on Paris on 13 November, in which 130 people were killed. |
| Several of the Paris bombers came from Belgium and some of the bombs were made in a flat in Brussels. | Several of the Paris bombers came from Belgium and some of the bombs were made in a flat in Brussels. |