2024-07-29 22:29:46
Belgian federal police carried out 14 searches on Thursday and detained seven people on suspicion of participating in a terrorist group, financing terrorism and preparing a terrorist attack.
As reported by Day.Az with reference to Interfax, this was reported by the RTBF TV channel.
The operations took place in several cities in Belgium, including Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, Kortrijk.
RTBF recalled that since the terrorist attack in Brussels on 16 October 2023 against Swedish football fans, the country has remained at terrorist threat level three (serious) on a four-point scale. According to the competent authorities, this level will not be lowered until the end of the summer for a number of reasons, including the holding of major sporting events.
Citing its sources, the TV channel notes that the date for the police anti-terrorist operation was partly chosen because of the upcoming opening of the Olympic Games in Paris on Friday. “The security services did not want to allow any risk,” the report says.
At the same time, the same sources indicate that there is no evidence of the suspects’ intention to commit terrorist acts specifically against the Summer Olympics. “Their specific goals have not yet been determined,” notes the federal prosecutor’s office, which at the same time states that it will not provide any additional information, based on the interests of the investigation.
In addition, RTBF reports that at the same time, arrests were made in other countries in Europe due to the “potential Islamist threat”.
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