Two dead as police carry out anti-terror actions across country

The main Jewish schools in Brussels and Antwerp are closed today, amid fears of a terrorist attack in reprisal for a day of anti-terror operations across the country yesterday in which two armed men were killed by police in Verviers. The federal government raised the terrorist alert level from two to three for police and government buildings. Four is the maximum terror alert level.

Yesterday’s actions had been planned for some time, police said, and had no direct link with the Charlie Hebdo shooting in Paris last week. According to a spokesperson for the federal prosecutor’s office, the operation was in response to intelligence on a planned terrorist attack on a target in Belgium, who was to be kidnapped and then beheaded on camera. The identity of the target has not been revealed.

Yesterday’s operation was launched in Verviers, Liège province, where occupants of a house fired on police who were carrying out a search warrant. “They were then neutralised,” said spokesperson Erik Van Der Sypt. “Two suspects were killed and another seriously injured. Neither police nor members of the public were injured.”

Police said that the assassination attempt had been avoided by a matter of hours. “It is clear they were well-organised and in possession of an impressive arsenal,” Van Der Sypt said.

Searches were also carried out yesterday in the Brussels communes of Molenbeek, Anderlecht, Schaarbeek and Brussels-City, as well as in Vilvoorde and Zaventem. Two men, believed to be returned Syria fighters, were arrested in Zaventem.

In the evening, prime minister Charles Michel met with interior minister Jan Jambon and justice minister Koen Geens, when the terror alert was raised. In Antwerp, police officers were given permission to take their service weapons home for their personal protection. 

According to regulations, the level three alert signifies that an attack is “possible or probable”. The decision to raise the alert level, Jambon told VRT radio, “was taken as a precaution and not because we have concrete evidence. But it would be inaccurate to say that all risk has now been eliminated.”

The federal government is today expected to approve a number of measures in response to the threat. Among them is an exception to the rule that military personnel are not allowed to operate on Belgian soil. An emergency measure will be passed to allow military personnel to guard public places when the terror alert is at levels three or four.

The measures will also include bills to take action against returning fighters from Syria, including withdrawing residency permits or Belgian citizenship, and the introduction of penalties for taking part in foreign conflicts.

Another proposal would make it possible for investigators to monitor internet messages – via Facebook, Skype, WhatsApp and other services – of those suspected of pro-terror propaganda. At present such surveillance is only possible when there is evidence the suspect is planning or financing actual terrorist activities.

photo: Belgian defence minister Steven Vandeput (foreground) and State Secretary for Migration Theo Francken arrive at parliament for emergency meeting yesterday

© Eric Lalmand / BELGA