Bomb alarm at Justice Palace

The Justice Palace in Brussels was evacuated yesterday morning around 09.30 after a bomb threat. Police found nothing and the building was opened again before midday.

An anonymous caller had announced that three bombs were timed to go off between 10.00 and 10.30. The building was cleared, though the Tannoy message delivered throughout the complex said the evacuation was part of an exercise, perhaps in an effort to avoid widespread panic.

The origin of the hoax is not known. The only exceptional case due to be heard on Tuesday was another appearance by the alleged ETA terrorist Maria Natividad Jauregui Espina, whose extradition has been requested by Spain. However the court of appeal in Ghent ruled against handing her over. The Ghent prosecutor took the case to the Cassation Court, which sits in Brussels. It is not clear whether the bomb hoax had any connection with that case.