2 arrested during end-of-year celebrations in Belgium

Two people suspected of preparing terrorist attacks in Brussels during the end-of-year celebrations were placed under arrest warrant, announced Tuesday the Belgian federal procuratorate.

Several searches were conducted on Sunday and Monday in the capital and other Belgian cities, according to a statement of the procuratorate, and six people were taken to audition.

Two of them were placed under arrest warrant and the other four persons heard were released.

The survey aims to highlight "serious" attacks threats that would target "several emblematic locations" of Brussels and "would be committed during the end of year celebrations," said the statement.

Some Belgian newspapers indicated that these threats were targeting the General Police Station located near the Grand Place, the city center of Brussels.

In this anti-terrorist operation, some computer hardware, military training uniforms and propaganda materials of Islamic State were seized, the statement added.

On Tuesday morning, the alert level was raised from 2 to 3 for the Brussels police stations. Security surveillance has therefore been increased.
  Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
  29/12/15
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