Belgium continues to maintain maximum alert level

(Baonghean.vn) - Summarizing the raid on terrorists in Brussels, the federal public prosecutor said that the police conducted 19 searches, arrested 16 people and did not seize any weapons or explosives. As for Salad Abdeslam - the main target of the raid - he has not been found yet.

Police at Brussels central station on November 22. Photo: AFP

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Miches announced on November 22 that Belgian police had conducted a series of raids across Brussels due to concerns about an “imminent” terrorist threat. Police have asked the media not to comment directly on their operations.

Although the Belgian police raids have ended, Prime Minister Michel continued to maintain the maximum alert level (level 4) that was raised on November 21 on Monday in Brussels. After meeting with the National Security Council, Mr. Michel said:

“We are still afraid of similar attacks like in Paris in many places. The targets are often places with a lot of people, shopping centers, busy streets or public transport points.”

Due to the maximum alert level in Brussels, schools and the metro system remained closed on November 23. Nurseries, shopping centers, entertainment venues, markets and sports arenas were also forced to suspend operations.

The Belgian Prime Minister once again stressed the recommendations to “reduce the number of world events” taking place in Belgium and will present an assessment of the security situation on November 23. Except for the capital Brussels, the remaining regions remain on alert level 3 (the level of warning of “possible and likely” threats).

Police are currently deployed continuously in Monlebeek in Brussels - considered the rear base of extremist jihadists. According to statistics, one-third of the 150 extremist jihadists originating from Brussels who have appeared in Syria in recent years come from the Monlebeek area. Typical among them are Abdelhamid Abaaoud - the suicide bomber in Saint-Denis and Salad Abdeslam - the suspect on the run after participating in the November 13 attack in Paris.

It is known that the raids in Brussels since November 21 are to search for “a number of suspects” related to the November 13 attacks in Paris. However, Belgian authorities did not provide further details about the investigation, only saying that “two terrorists” are hiding in Brussels.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)