Brussels placed on maximum alert after threat of 'imminent' attack
- 8 years ago
BRUSSELS — Belgium put the capital Brussels on maximum security alert on Saturday, shutting down the metro and warning people to avoid crowds because of a "serious and imminent" threat of coordinated, multiple attacks by militants.
Brussels was placed on the top level "four" in the government threat scale after a meeting of police, justice and intelligence officials.
Soldiers and police were put on guard in several areas throughout Brussels, a city of 1.2 million people and home to the European Union and NATO headquarters.
"The result of relatively precise information pointed to the risk of an attack along the lines of what took place in Paris," Prime Minister Charles Michel said at a press conference Saturday after a meeting of the national security council.
"We are talking about the threat that several individuals with arms and explosives would launch an attack perhaps in several locations at the same time," Michel said.
He did not offer more details, but said authorities would look at the situation again in the afternoon on Sunday.
The metro system is to stay closed until the reassessment. Major shopping centers and stores did open on Saturday morning, with soldiers posted outside shops. However, many began closing around midday.
The government's crisis center suggested people avoid crowded places like shopping centers, sports events and public transportation centers.
Museums, several movie theaters and sports centers were closed, on separate orders from the city's 19 different local mayors, Reuters reports. Clubs and venues canceled events.
Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said that 1,000 troops were now available for patrols.
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Brussels was placed on the top level "four" in the government threat scale after a meeting of police, justice and intelligence officials.
Soldiers and police were put on guard in several areas throughout Brussels, a city of 1.2 million people and home to the European Union and NATO headquarters.
"The result of relatively precise information pointed to the risk of an attack along the lines of what took place in Paris," Prime Minister Charles Michel said at a press conference Saturday after a meeting of the national security council.
"We are talking about the threat that several individuals with arms and explosives would launch an attack perhaps in several locations at the same time," Michel said.
He did not offer more details, but said authorities would look at the situation again in the afternoon on Sunday.
The metro system is to stay closed until the reassessment. Major shopping centers and stores did open on Saturday morning, with soldiers posted outside shops. However, many began closing around midday.
The government's crisis center suggested people avoid crowded places like shopping centers, sports events and public transportation centers.
Museums, several movie theaters and sports centers were closed, on separate orders from the city's 19 different local mayors, Reuters reports. Clubs and venues canceled events.
Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said that 1,000 troops were now available for patrols.
-------------------------------------------------------------
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Check out our Android app: http://bit.ly/1rddhCj
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