2 Arrested in Belgium in Alleged Holiday Terror Plans
They're suspected of planning attacks during end-of-year celebrations.
LONDON— -- Two people are being held in Belgium on suspicion of planning terror attacks in the capital during the end-of-year celebrations, officials said today.
"There was a serious threat against several emblematic locations of Brussels," the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.
The arrests were made after police searches in Brussels, Liege and Flemish Brabant Sunday and overnight found Islamic State propaganda and military-type outfits. No weapons or explosives were uncovered, the prosecutor added in the statement.
Four other individuals were initially detained and have been released, though authorities have nonetheless decided to raise the terror-threat level to 3 out of 4 for at least a week.
"In light of investigations conducted by the federal prosecutor, we have decided yesterday to raise the level of terror threat in Belgium to 3," spokesman for the Belgian Ministry of Interior’s Crisis Center said.
A particular warning has been issued for police stations and areas with a military presence, the spokesman added.
The arrests do not appear to be linked to recent terror attacks in Paris, but the country has been on high alert since Nov. 13 after the discovery that several of the suspects lived in Belgium and had accomplices there.
