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Belgian Police Arrest 12 Suspected Of Planning New Attacks

Belgian Police Arrest 12 Suspected Of Planning New Attacks
Belgian special forces police officers stand guard outside a courthouse, while Brussels attacks suspects Mohamed Abrini and Osama Krayem are appearing before a judge to decide if they remain in custody, in Brussels, Belgium, April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Yves Herman / Reuters
Belgian special forces police officers stand guard outside a courthouse, while Brussels attacks suspects Mohamed Abrini and Osama Krayem are appearing before a judge to decide if they remain in custody, in Brussels, Belgium, April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Twelve people suspected of planning new attacks were arrested across Belgian overnight after police carried out about 40 house searches in the country, the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement on Saturday.

"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 soccer 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 Belgian.

Flemish public broadcaster VTM said the people arrested overnight were suspected of planning an attack in Brussels this weekend during one of Belgian's soccer 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 Belgian and France, security officials said.

On Friday 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.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.