Belgium raises terror threat level at public events after Paris attacks

Belgium has increased its terror threat level from 2 to 3 at big sporting and cultural events, following the co-ordinated attacks in Paris on Friday night in which 129 people were killed and 352 injured.

Belgian prime minister Charles Michel made the announcement late on Saturday night, after a meeting with the country's national security council.

The decision by the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis means the Belgian army could be deployed at events that attract a large number of people.

The Belgian government has asked all local police forces to carry out systematic searches at the entry to public events - adding that local forces had a vital potential role to play in gathering and passing on intelligence.

French and Belgian police have been carrying out random roadside checks on vehicles, leading to long traffic jams at some border crossings. There are also increased security checks at ports, airports and railway stations.

A grey Volkswagen Polo hire-car registered in Belgium was found near the Bataclan theatre in Paris, the scene of the deadliest attack on Friday night.

In an interview for RTL on Sunday, Charles Michel described the Paris attacks as "acts of war".

He said: "European security services have been fearing this type of attack for months."

Michel added that there has been a "form of a laxity, a laisser-faire" approach in the past, for which "we are now paying the price".

He told RTL: "For several years, Belgium has been warning of the phenomenon of fighters leaving for Syria and coming back to Europe to commit attacks. Lots of people suspected of links to radical groups are under surveillance."

Belgian interior minister Jan Jambon visited Paris on Sunday to discuss security measures with his French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.

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