2015-11-23 18:30:00

Dozens of terror suspects detained in Brussels


(Vatican Radio) A massive manhunt continues in Belgium’s capital Brussels and beyond with authorities saying five more possible terrorists have been detained while they search for a fugitive suspect in the Paris attacks that killed 130 people. Between Sunday night and midday Monday, 21 people were detained amid concerns over what the Belgian government called “a serious and imminent threat” of gun and bomb attacks in the Brussels region. 

Listen to Stefan Bos' report:

The crackdown came while France and Britain pledged to step up international efforts to destroy the Islamic State group which has claimed responsibility for terror acts in Paris and elsewhere.

Yet not everyone seemed aware of the security measures in Brussels. “The school is closed” surprised children said. They were among the few not aware that all schools and universities remained closed in the Brussels region as the government kept the capital on the highest state of terror alert in years.  "I didn't know it so we went to school. I think we will go home now," a young girl said.

Many stayed at home as the terror alert prevented a return to normal in the city that is host to the NATO military alliance and European Union's main institutions.

Sirens wailed through the streets and troops patrolled the streets as part of a terror lockdown and manhunt for one or more suspected extremists including Salah Abdeslam, a suspect in the November 13 Paris attacks.

SHOTS FIRED

Officials said police even fired two shots at a car that approached them as they searched a snack bar in the Molenbeek area. The vehicle escaped but was stopped later in Brussels. 

A wounded person inside was detained though it was not immediately clear whether the suspect could be linked to the Paris attacks.

More than 20 terror suspects, including a handful Monday, have been detained in Belgian police raids since Sunday. 

But Belgium’s federal prosecutors spokesmen Thierry Werts admitted that concerns remain over possible acts of terrorism. "Till now we did not find weapons or explosives," he said adding that key suspect "Saleb Abdeslam had not been arrested during these actions."

Abdeslam was allegedly involved in the attacks in Paris where on Monday British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to ask for parliamentary approval for Britain to join airstrikes against the Islamic State terror group.   

MORE FRENCH STRIKES

He and French President Francois Hollande made an unannounced visit to an makeshift memorial in front of  the Bataclan concert hall where 89 people were killed. 

Hollande made clear France will step up attacks against Islamic State which claimed responsibility for the violence. “We will intensify the air strikes and choose sites that could do as much damage as possible to this army of terrorists," he said. 

"Our air force will arrive soon and is well equipped to hit Islamic State hard.”

Yet in Brussels it has become clear that fighting terrorism isn’t easy. 








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.