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| Belgium on high alert after deadly anti-terror raid | Belgium on high alert after deadly anti-terror raid |
| (5 months later) | |
| Belgium is on high alert after a major anti-terror raid in which two suspected Islamist militants were killed. | Belgium is on high alert after a major anti-terror raid in which two suspected Islamist militants were killed. |
| The suspects were shot dead in the eastern town of Verviers after they opened fire on police with automatic weapons on Thursday evening. | The suspects were shot dead in the eastern town of Verviers after they opened fire on police with automatic weapons on Thursday evening. |
| Officials say they had returned from Syria and planned imminent attacks on police targets. Another suspect was wounded before being arrested. | Officials say they had returned from Syria and planned imminent attacks on police targets. Another suspect was wounded before being arrested. |
| Searches were also carried out overnight in the Brussels area. | Searches were also carried out overnight in the Brussels area. |
| 'Bomb-making equipment' | 'Bomb-making equipment' |
| Speaking after Thursday's raid in Verviers, near the German border, Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt said the terror threat level had been raised to three - the second highest. | Speaking after Thursday's raid in Verviers, near the German border, Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt said the terror threat level had been raised to three - the second highest. |
| Referring to the raid itself, he said: "The suspects immediately and for several minutes opened fire with military weaponry and handguns on the special units of the federal police before they were neutralised." | Referring to the raid itself, he said: "The suspects immediately and for several minutes opened fire with military weaponry and handguns on the special units of the federal police before they were neutralised." |
| After the operation, four Kalashnikovs, bomb-making equipment and police clothing were found, according to local media. Security forces remain in the Verviers area. | After the operation, four Kalashnikovs, bomb-making equipment and police clothing were found, according to local media. Security forces remain in the Verviers area. |
| Police are expected to provide more details at a briefing on Friday. | Police are expected to provide more details at a briefing on Friday. |
| "Operations on the ground are now over. We are now exploiting the information [from the overnight anti-terror operations]," Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told French TV station iTele. | "Operations on the ground are now over. We are now exploiting the information [from the overnight anti-terror operations]," Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told French TV station iTele. |
| Some Jewish schools in Antwerp and Brussels were closed on Friday, after they were informed that they could be potential targets, Belgian newspaper Joods Actueel reported. | Some Jewish schools in Antwerp and Brussels were closed on Friday, after they were informed that they could be potential targets, Belgian newspaper Joods Actueel reported. |
| Anti-terror raids also took place late on Thursday in the capital Brussels and surrounding towns, including Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Anderlecht and Schaerbeek. | Anti-terror raids also took place late on Thursday in the capital Brussels and surrounding towns, including Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Anderlecht and Schaerbeek. |
| Earlier that day, two suspected Islamists were arrested in the Brussels suburb of Zaventem, Belgian media reported. | Earlier that day, two suspected Islamists were arrested in the Brussels suburb of Zaventem, Belgian media reported. |
| Belgian officials say more than 300 people have left Belgium to fight with Islamic militant groups in Syria and Iraq. | Belgian officials say more than 300 people have left Belgium to fight with Islamic militant groups in Syria and Iraq. |
| The country is thought to have the highest number of foreign fighters per capita in Europe who have taken part in fighting in Syria. | The country is thought to have the highest number of foreign fighters per capita in Europe who have taken part in fighting in Syria. |
| 'Just terrified' | 'Just terrified' |
| Prosecutors said the suspects in Verviers were believed to have been plotting to attack a police station and cause a large number of casualties. | Prosecutors said the suspects in Verviers were believed to have been plotting to attack a police station and cause a large number of casualties. |
| Eyewitnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire for several minutes and at least three explosions. | Eyewitnesses reported hearing heavy gunfire for several minutes and at least three explosions. |
| Marylou Fletcher, one of the witnesses, told the BBC: "We were going back from shopping and saw the police cars. We thought there was an accident then we heard something blowing up. There were a lot of gunshots. | Marylou Fletcher, one of the witnesses, told the BBC: "We were going back from shopping and saw the police cars. We thought there was an accident then we heard something blowing up. There were a lot of gunshots. |
| "My children cried. They are just terrified." | "My children cried. They are just terrified." |
| The area around the train station remains sealed off. | The area around the train station remains sealed off. |
| Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the security operation "shows the government's determination to fight those who want to spread terror", his spokesman said. | Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the security operation "shows the government's determination to fight those who want to spread terror", his spokesman said. |
| Verviers is in the province of Liege, close to the German border, and has a population of about 56,000. | Verviers is in the province of Liege, close to the German border, and has a population of about 56,000. |
| The incident comes a week after attacks in neighbouring France that killed 17 people. Belgian media has reported that some of the weapons used in those attacks were bought in Brussels. | The incident comes a week after attacks in neighbouring France that killed 17 people. Belgian media has reported that some of the weapons used in those attacks were bought in Brussels. |
| However, Mr Van Der Sypt said no weapons link with the killings in France had been established. | However, Mr Van Der Sypt said no weapons link with the killings in France had been established. |
| The suspects in the Belgium raids had been under surveillance for some time - well before last week's traumatic events in Paris, the BBC's Chris Morris in Verviers says. | The suspects in the Belgium raids had been under surveillance for some time - well before last week's traumatic events in Paris, the BBC's Chris Morris in Verviers says. |
| But there are fears that the suspects captured or killed in this operation could have been inspired by the killings in France to accelerate their own plans, our correspondent adds. | But there are fears that the suspects captured or killed in this operation could have been inspired by the killings in France to accelerate their own plans, our correspondent adds. |
| The attacks in and around Paris - on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market and police - have heightened security fears in several European countries. | The attacks in and around Paris - on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market and police - have heightened security fears in several European countries. |
| In May last year, four people were killed inside the Jewish museum in Brussels. A Frenchman of Algerian descent is in custody in Belgium over the attack. | In May last year, four people were killed inside the Jewish museum in Brussels. A Frenchman of Algerian descent is in custody in Belgium over the attack. |