Brussels Police Arrest 16 in Anti-terrorist Operation

• 23.11.2015, 7:56

Belgian law enforcers conducted 19 searches in Brussels within the framework of the anti-terrorist raid, arresting 16 people. The suspect in Paris attacks, Salah Abdeslam, is still at large, Brussels prosecutor Eric Vandersypt said at a press conference late Sunday.

Vandersypt said 19 searches were conducted in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Anderlecht, Sharbeyke, Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe, Forst and Charleroi.

16 individuals were arrested. Their identity has not been disclosed.

It is expected that the court will decide on their further detention on Monday.

As UNIAN reported earlier, the Belgium’s National Safety Council extended to the second half of Monday the highest level of terror alert. It was therefore decided not to open the subway; schools and universities will be closed, all public events will be canceled. The district where the Headquarters of the European Commission and the EU Council are located will be closed up. Many companies encouraged their employees not to attend work in Brussels and work from home instead.