Belgian cops nab 12 suspected of planning new attacks, prosecutor says

BRUSSELS, June 18 — Twelve people suspected of planning new attacks were arrested across Belgium overnight after police carried out about 40 house searches in the country, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement today.

“In connection with a criminal investigation concerning terrorism... 40 persons were taken for questioning. Twelve among them were arrested. The investigating judge will decide on their possible detention later today,” the statement said.

Europe is on high alert as the Euro 2016 football tournament is under way in neighbouring France. Islamist suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels in March following attacks in Paris in November in which 130 people died.

Investigators have confirmed links between the perpetrators, some of whom were based in Belgium.

Flemish public broadcaster VTM said the people arrested overnight were suspected of planning an attack in Brussels this weekend during one of Belgium’s football matches in the Euros.

Belgian police on Wednesday received an anti-terror alert warning that a group of Islamic State fighters recently left Syria en route for Europe planning attacks in Belgium and France, security officials said.

Yesterday police arrested and detained a man named as Youssef E.A, a Belgian national, on suspicion of taking part in terrorist activities in connection with the Brussels attacks. — Reuters

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