Brussels remain on high alert, 16 detained in anti-terror raids

Europe, News November 22, 2015 , by IRIA No Comments

BRUSSELS — Belgian authorities announced early Monday that they have arrested 16 people in raids linked to possible attacks in Belgium that the country’s prime minister earlier described as a “serious and imminent” threat of a Paris-style terrorist assault.

But authorities said Paris fugitive Salah Abdeslam was not among those deatined.

Belgium maintained the highest terror alert level for the capital of Brussels on Sunday, marked by the deployment of soldiers in the Belgian capital.

The spokesman for the federal prosecutor, Eric Van Der Sypt, said that “no firearms or explosives were discovered,” in the 22 raids — 16 in Brussels and the three in Charleroi in the country’s south. At least one of the raids was conducted in Molenbeek, a Brussels neighborhood that has long provided a haven for aspiring and returning foreign fighters.

“We have to stress that no firearms or explosives were discovered … during the raids,” Van Der Sypt said.” Certain elements in the investigation made Sunday’s intervention necessary. The investigation will in any case be relentlessly continued.”

Soldiers stand guard in front of the Brussels central railway station. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Brussels spent third day under lockdown Sunday as law enforcement continued their search for Salah Abdeslam, a potential accomplice to the Paris attacks last week.

Belgium has been at the heart of investigations into the Paris attacks on Nov. 13 that left 130 people dead after links emerged to Brussels.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the decision was taken because of “relatively precise information that a risk of attack could take place as it did in Paris.” He said the threat level would be reassessed Sunday afternoon.

All metro stations in Brussels remained closed and the public transport authority’s Facebook page said buses would operate but some tram routes are affected.

“The analysis shows indeed a serious and imminent threat that requires taking specific security measures as well as specific recommendations for the population,” the interior ministry crisis center said in a statement announcing the alert upgrade to 4.

The Belgian government raised the terror threat for the Brussels region to its highest level early Saturday morning, warning the risk of an attack is “serious and imminent” and urging citizens to avoid crowded places but remain calm.

Two of the Paris suicide bombers, Brahim Abdeslam and Bilal Hadfi, had been living in Belgium. Officials believe Saleh Abdeslam has crossed into Belgium after the terror spree.

Abdeslam’s brother, Mohamed, issued a fresh appeal Sunday for him to give himself up to police.

“We would rather see Salah in prison than in a cemetery,” he told RTBF television.