Belgian raids: 16 arrests in wake of Paris attacks
It was a short press conference from Thierry Werts, of the Belgian prosecutor’s office, and Eric van der Sypt, a federal magistrate. Both men were keen to stress that they were keeping their cards close to their chests in the interests of preserving an ongoing operation. But here’s what we learned:
- 16 people have been arrested in a total of 22 raids across Belgium on Sunday.
- Salah Abdeslam, the Paris attacks suspect still at large, was not among them. But the prosecutor’s office did not confirm reports from local media that he narrowly escaped arrest - simply that he was not apprehended.
- A judge will decide tomorrow whether or not those arrested will be kept in custody.
- Police fired shots at a car that drove at them as they carried out an arrest. The driver was later arrested, although the prosecutor’s office was not yet in a position to confirm that they were linked to the anti-terror raids.
My colleague in Brussels, Jason Burke, has written a more detailed story on the day’s events and we’ll be adding updates as we get them this evening.
We’re being told that no weapons or explosives were uncovered as a result of any of the searches.
And, with that, they close the press conference. As promised earlier, no questions were taken and details of the raids were sparse.
Van der Sypt was keen to thank people for abiding by the police’s request to maintain “radio silence” and said the operation was ongoing.
Updated
A judge will decide on Monday whether or not those arrested will be held in custody.
The driver of the car that drove at police was arrested later, although there is no confirmation forthcoming on whether that arrest is linked to the investigation in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.
Updated
Those searches:
- 19 across Brussels
- Three house searches in Charleroi
The key target, 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam, is not among those arrested.
Updated
Police carried out 19 raids in the Brussels area on Sunday, we’re being told, as well as more elsewhere in Belgium. There have been 16 arrests. Police also fired at a vehicle that drove at them while making an arrest.
Eric van der Sypt, a Belgian federal magistrate, is explaining that the announcement will be in various languages. There will be no questions in the interests of preserving what is an ongoing operation.
We’re expecting the press conference to start any moment now. Belgian media reports suggest that Salah Abdeslam, the suspect still at large after the Paris attacks, could have escaped arrest.
Earlier, Belgian police asked people not to post information about the operations they were carrying out on social media and Belgian newspapers said they were contacted by the authorities and asked not to give anything away while those operations were ongoing.
Par sécurité, veuillez respecter le silence radio sur les médias sociaux concernant les opérations de police en cours à #Bruxelles. Merci
— Police Fédérale (@PolFed_presse) November 22, 2015
The public prosecutor in Belgium is to give a press conference in the next few minutes, following a series of operations in the country.
Belgian armed police mounted raids across the country arresting at least six suspects. They mounted searches in several parts of the capital on Sunday evening and cordoned off areas close to the main tourist attraction, the Renaissance Grand Place around the town hall. Belgium’s public broadcaster said there were also raids near Liege in the east and Charleroi, south of Brussels. Helicopters could be heard flying over the capital. Police evacuated restaurants in the centre, blocked off roads and issued requests to residents to stay away from windows.
