Belgium raises alert level in capital Brussels to highest level

(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of the 20th and early morning of the 21st, the Belgian government placed the entire city of Brussels under the highest state of alert and asked people to avoid gathering in crowded places because of a "serious and imminent" threat.

Following the attacks in Paris on November 13, the Belgian government declared a Level 3 alert across the country. By the evening of November 20 and early morning of November 21, the alert level in Brussels was suddenly raised to Level 4 - the highest level.

Brussels authorities ask people to avoid gathering in crowded places. Photo: Le Monde

Investigators suspect Salah Abdeslam, one of the Paris attack suspects, is in the Belgian capital, according to a source. So far, Belgian authorities have not given a clear reason for raising the alert level in Brussels to the highest level.

The government crisis center spokesman announced that the metro and STIB (Brussels public transport system) will not operate this weekend. Football matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, as well as public events, have been postponed or canceled. The Belgian government has ordered the deployment of additional soldiers and police in Brussels.

Extra police and soldiers have been deployed to Brussels. Photo: AFP

Police have issued an international arrest warrant for Salah Abdeslam, who was directly involved in the November 13 shootings in front of cafes and restaurants in Paris with his brother Brahim, who later blew himself up on Boulevard Voltaire. Salah Abdeslam left Paris the next morning (November 14) with the help of two accomplices. Police have arrested Salah's two accomplices on charges of terrorist attacks.

Chu Thanh

(According to le Monde)