Newsuk newsParis attacksbrussels

Brussels On Lockdown As Belgium's Capital At Threat Of 'Imminent' Terrorist Attack

Brussels On Lockdown As Fears Grow Of 'Imminent' Paris-Style Terror Attack
Kathryn Snowdon
|

Brussels is on lockdown as fears grow that the capital could be the target of an "imminent" terrorist attack "like the one that happened in Paris".

Soldiers and heavily armed police patrolled the Belgian city on Saturday morning. Streetcar lines that run underground were suspended and the Brussels Metro is due to remain closed until Sunday.

The government has advised people to avoid crowded areas, including shopping centres and concerts.

Open Image Modal

Belgium's capital, Brussels, is on lockdown

Some of those who planned and carried out the attacks on the French capital last week lived in Brussels.

Brussels is home to more than 1 million people, as well as the headquarters of the European Union, NATO and a host of international corporations.

Residents were told to avoid gatherings, train stations, airports and commercial districts.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said that the decision to raise the threat alert to the highest level was "based on quite precise information about the risk of an attack like the one that happened in Paris ... where several individuals with arms and explosives launch actions, perhaps even in several places at the same time."

Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Mr Michel added: "We urge the public not to give in to panic, to stay calm. We have taken the measures that are necessary."

Article continues below slideshow:

Brussels On Lockdown After Terror Alert
BELGIUM-FRANCE-ATTACKS(01 of13)
Open Image Modal
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel (C) speaks during a joint press conference with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, Economy and Consumer Affairs Kris Peeters (L) and Vice Prime Minister and Interior Minister Jan Jambon after a meeting of the national security council in Brussels on November 21, 2015. Brussels was on terror lockdown, with a gunman still on the run after the Paris attacks which have rattled nerves throughout Europe. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / NICOLAS MAETERLINCK (Photo credit should read NICOLAS MAETERLINCK/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:NICOLAS MAETERLINCK via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(02 of13)
Open Image Modal
A journalist interviews a man as a soldier patrols the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(03 of13)
Open Image Modal
People walk down the the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(04 of13)
Open Image Modal
Soldiers patrol the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(05 of13)
Open Image Modal
Soldiers patrol the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(06 of13)
Open Image Modal
A soldier patrols he Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(07 of13)
Open Image Modal
A soldier patrols the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(08 of13)
Open Image Modal
Women with umbrellas walk past a soldier patrolling the Rue Neuve pedestrian shopping street in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed on November 21, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(09 of13)
Open Image Modal
A man walks by a military vehicle parked in front of the Central Railways station in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed today, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO/JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)
Terror alert in Brussels(10 of13)
Open Image Modal
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 21: Belgian security forces patrol on the streets as the Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to the level 4, highest level warning of an 'imminent threat', in Brussels, Belgium on November 21, 2015. Authorities warn the people keeping away from crowded areas as well as subway stations temporarily restricted for entrance. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Terror alert in Brussels(11 of13)
Open Image Modal
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 21: Belgian security forces patrol on the streets as the Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to the level 4, highest level warning of an 'imminent threat', in Brussels, Belgium on November 21, 2015. Authorities warn the people keeping away from crowded areas as well as subway stations temporarily restricted for entrance. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Terror alert in Brussels(12 of13)
Open Image Modal
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 21: A subway station entrance is seen closed as the Belgian authorities raised the terror alert to the level 4, highest level warning of an 'imminent threat', in Brussels, Belgium on November 21, 2015. Authorities warn the people keeping away from crowded areas as well as subway stations temporarily restricted for entrance. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
BELGIUM-ATTACKS-ALERT(13 of13)
Open Image Modal
A photo shows a closed entrance of the Shuman Subway Station in Brussels on November 21, 2015. All metro train stations in Brussels will be closed today, the city's public transport network said after Belgium raised the capital's terror alert to the highest level, warning of an 'imminent threat'. As Europe tightens security a week on from the jihadist attacks in Paris that left 130 people dead, Belgium's OCAM national crisis centre raised its alert level to 4 early on November 21, 'signifying a very serious threat for the Brussels region'. AFP PHOTO / JOHN THYS (Photo credit should read JOHN THYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JOHN THYS via Getty Images)

The Belgium government will meet again on Sunday to reassess the threat.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who is believed to have been the "mastermind" behind the Paris attacks, lived in Belgium's capital. He was killed in a raid on an apartment in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Wednesday.

At least one suspect from the deadly Paris attacks is at large. A manhunt is currently underway to locate Salah Abdeslam, who crossed into Belgium the morning after the attacks.

Last Friday's attacks on the French capital left 130 people dead and dozens injured.

The Bataclan concert hall, bars, restaurants and a football stadium were targeted by Islamic State terrorists.

Of the seven attackers, six are dead. Most of the terrorists had links to France and Belgium.

SEE ALSO:

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's office said on Saturday that several weapons were discovered during the search of the home of one of three people arrested in connection with the Paris attacks, but said no explosives were found, the Associated Press reports.

Ahmad Dahman, a 26-year-old Belgian of Moroccan origin, was detained in the Turkey, along with two other suspected Islamic State militants.

Dahmani is believed to have been in contact with the Paris attackers, according to a government official.

This week, France extended a state of emergency for three months, thereby expanding police powers to carry out arrests and searches. It also allows authorities to forbid the movement of persons and vehicles at specific times and places.

Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip