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| Brussels: Man wearing fake suicide vest sparks anti-terror operation at shopping centre in Belgium | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A shopping centre in central Brussels has been evacuated following a security alert over a man feared to be wearing a suicide vest. | A shopping centre in central Brussels has been evacuated following a security alert over a man feared to be wearing a suicide vest. |
| Bomb disposal units and the emergency services were working at the closed City 2 complex in the Belgian capital. | Bomb disposal units and the emergency services were working at the closed City 2 complex in the Belgian capital. |
| The man called police at 5.30am local time (4.30am BST) claiming he was wearing an explosives belt, Le Soir reported. | The man called police at 5.30am local time (4.30am BST) claiming he was wearing an explosives belt, Le Soir reported. |
| A full counter-terror operation was mounted and Prime Minister Charles Michel to cancel a television appearance for an urgent meeting with the national crisis response centre. | A full counter-terror operation was mounted and Prime Minister Charles Michel to cancel a television appearance for an urgent meeting with the national crisis response centre. |
| Mr Michel later said the situation was under control, adding that security services remained "extremely vigilant". | Mr Michel later said the situation was under control, adding that security services remained "extremely vigilant". |
| A suspect was arrested at the scene and was found to be wearing a fake suicide vest. | |
| “He is being questioned at the moment,” said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutors' office. “There were no explosives.” | “He is being questioned at the moment,” said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokesperson for the Brussels prosecutors' office. “There were no explosives.” |
| Rogier Metro station and surrounding roads were temporarily closed as a security cordon was established around the shopping centre while the operation continued. | Rogier Metro station and surrounding roads were temporarily closed as a security cordon was established around the shopping centre while the operation continued. |
| A spokesperson for Belgium's crisis centre said nationwide security measures remained unchanged, with the threat on level three out of a maximum four. | A spokesperson for Belgium's crisis centre said nationwide security measures remained unchanged, with the threat on level three out of a maximum four. |
| Shopping centres were among the reported targets of a group of Isis fighters said to be travelling towards Belgium from Syria last week, sparking increased precautions. | Shopping centres were among the reported targets of a group of Isis fighters said to be travelling towards Belgium from Syria last week, sparking increased precautions. |
| Belgium has been on high alert since Isis’ attacks on Paris in November, when several of the militants were traced to Brussels. | Belgium has been on high alert since Isis’ attacks on Paris in November, when several of the militants were traced to Brussels. |
| In March, bombings at Brussels Airport and Maelbeek Metro station killed 32 people, and there have been reports of several further plots. | In March, bombings at Brussels Airport and Maelbeek Metro station killed 32 people, and there have been reports of several further plots. |
| Dozens of people were arrested in raids on Friday night on reported intelligence that they were planning an imminent attack the Belgian capital as people watched the national team’s Euro 2016 match against Ireland on Saturday. | Dozens of people were arrested in raids on Friday night on reported intelligence that they were planning an imminent attack the Belgian capital as people watched the national team’s Euro 2016 match against Ireland on Saturday. |
| Three men were detained on charges of “attempting to commit terrorist murder” and participating in the activities of a terrorist group, believed to be Isis. | Three men were detained on charges of “attempting to commit terrorist murder” and participating in the activities of a terrorist group, believed to be Isis. |
| A new suspect, named as Youssef al-Ajmi, also arrested in connection with the Brussels attacks last week as investigations into a suspected network of supporters continues. | A new suspect, named as Youssef al-Ajmi, also arrested in connection with the Brussels attacks last week as investigations into a suspected network of supporters continues. |
| On Monday, a series of house searches were also carried out relating to the attack on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris on 21 August 2015, resulting in six arrests. | On Monday, a series of house searches were also carried out relating to the attack on a high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris on 21 August 2015, resulting in six arrests. |
| No one was killed in the incident, when passengers tackled the gunman to the ground after he opened fire with an assault rifle and pistol. | No one was killed in the incident, when passengers tackled the gunman to the ground after he opened fire with an assault rifle and pistol. |
| Abdelhamid Abaaoud, an Isis fighter and suspected ringleader in the Paris attacks, was linked to the attempted massacre. | Abdelhamid Abaaoud, an Isis fighter and suspected ringleader in the Paris attacks, was linked to the attempted massacre. |