Belgium’s federal prosecutor announced on Tuesday the arrest of eight people on Monday evening as part of two investigations into suspicions in preparing for a “terrorist assault.”
A judicial source told AFP that the detainees are “young people who followed the path of extremism,” and were involved in the “jihadist movement.”
Possible targets have not yet been identified. The investigation revolves around an attack plan in both files, which are linked, according to the Public Prosecution.
Five raids took place in Molenbeek in the Brussels-Oopen region of the east of the country, and in Dutch-speaking areas in the north, namely Merskim, Burghot and Dorne in Antwerp (Anver), as part of the first file in which the latter city is being investigated; and led to the arrest of five people, while two
As part of the second file being investigated in Brussels, three people were arrested in Molenbeck, Cherbeck (Brussels) and in Zaventem near the capital. The detainees are suspected to have been prepared to carry out an attack on Belgian territory.
The Federal Public Prosecution stressed that “there are links between the two files, but a deeper investigation would reveal the extent of overlapping the two cases.”
Belgium came under attacks claimed by the Islamic State seven years ago. Ten men are currently on trial before the criminal court.
These attacks killed 32 people and injured more than 340 on March 22, 2016.
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