Thread: Belgian authorities arrest 12 in major anti-terror raid

Belgian authorities arrest 12 in major anti-terror raid

By - Associated Press - Saturday, June 18, 2016

BRUSSELS (AP) - Belgian authorities have raided dozens of homes and arrested 12 suspects in a major anti-terror investigation which they said required “immediate intervention.”

The federal prosecutor’s office said Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels.

The statement said 40 people were taken for interrogation, of which 12 were arrested. It said there were no major incidents during the raids and that no arms or explosives were found.

The operation comes as Belgium remains under the second highest terror alert in wake of the March 22 attacks on the Brussels subway and airport which left 32 people dead.

Authorities are also especially attentive to security risks during the ongoing European soccer championships in neighboring France. Belgium is playing Ireland Saturday afternoon and big gatherings to watch the game are planned across the nation.

The prosecutor’s statement said that “the results of the investigation necessitated an immediate intervention,” indicating a violent attack was likely planned in the near future.

The federal prosecutor’s office did not link the raids to the March 22 attacks, even though an eighth suspect was arrested late Friday. The Belgian man, identified as Youssef E.A., was charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts to terrorist murders.”

Belgian media also reported that four top ministers, including Prime Minister Charles Michel, have received special protection following unspecified threats. The news could not immediately be confirmed.

Belgian authorities arrest 12 in major anti-terror raid

Terror suspects are spotted near Euro 2016 fanzone in Brussels as police arrest 12 who 'plotted attack during Belgium-Ireland match'

Belgian police mounted raids overnight and arrested 12 people in Brussels

Belgium's game with Ireland will be shown on TV in a fanzone in Brussels

RTBF TV channel said terror suspects were seen driving near the fanzone

By CHRIS SUMMERS FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 07:40 GMT, 18 June 2016 | UPDATED: 15:44 GMT, 18 June 2016

Police in Brussels have arrested 12 people and raided dozens of homes after terror suspects were seen driving near a fanzone where Belgian fans will gather this afternoon to watch their team's Euro 2016 game against Ireland later today.

The Belgian team, known as the Red Devils, played the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux this afternoon but it is thought Brussels was the target, possibly fans watching the match on giant TV screens in the city centre.

In the event the game passed off without incident, Belgium winning 3-0.

But Belgian prime minister Charles Michel said security would be stepped up at public events.

He said the nation should remain 'extremely vigilant, hour by hour' and security would stay at the second-highest level, meaning a threat of an attack was 'possible and likely'.


Belgian soldiers walk the streets of Brussels today after a suspected terrorist cell was dismantled
overnight. Suspects were seen scoping out a fanzone where today fans will watch Belgium's game
against Ireland

The broadcaster RTBF said terror suspects were seen driving on Friday near a fanzone in central Brussels, where today's game is being relayed from France on giant screens.

Earlier Farouk Özgünes, a reporter with Flemish public broadcaster VTM said: 'The suspects were planning to carry out attacks while the Red Devils were playing a match at the European Championships this weekend.

Perhaps they were planning to commit another attack today in Brussels.'

Police said homes and garages were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels.

The federal prosecutor's office said 'immediate intervention' had been required.

Europe is on high alert as the tournament is under way in neighbouring France.

Police said 40 people were taken in for interrogation, of which 12 were arrested.


Belgians walk past a bomb squad van outside the central station in Antwerp. Police and the bomb
squad unit responded to a suspect package in the station as the country was put on heightened alert


Police officers search a man's backpack in central Antwerp. The whole of Belgium is in a state of high tension

Belgian police said the raids 'passed off without incident' and said 'no arms or explosives were found'.

They searched 152 garages and lock-ups in Brussels, Molenbeek, Schaerbeek, Anderlecht, Koekelberg, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Evere, Frost, Boitsfort, Ganshoren, Zaventem, Ninove, Wemmel, Fleurus, Tubize and Liège.

A bomb squad unit was also called to the train station in the city of Antwerp after a suspect package was reported



Belgian's prime minister Charles Michel (pictured) urged people to remain calm but vigilant

Islamic extremist suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels in March following attacks in Paris in November in which 130 people died.

Yesterday the federal prosecutor's office arrested an eighth suspect, named as Youssef E A, in connection with the March 22 attacks.

He was charged with 'participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts to terrorist murders' but that was unconnected to the overnight raids.

Belgian media has also reported that four top ministers, including Prime Minister Charles Michel, have received special protection following unspecified threats.

A French RAID commando keeps tabs on the stadium in Bordeaux. RAID commandos were involved
earlier in the week when they shot dead a man claiming allegiance to ISIS after he killed a Paris police
commander and his wife at their home

Terror suspects are spotted near Euro 2016 fan zone in Brussels as police arrest 12 who 'plotted attack during Belgium-Ireland match'