The police have arrested eight people following investigations into a potential jihadist plot to commit “terrorist attacks” in Belgium, said the country’s officials, on Tuesday (March 28) as per AFP. In a statement, the federal prosecutor’s office said that the raids were conducted late Monday on homes in the capital city of Brussels, the port city of Antwerp and the border town of Eupen.&nbsp;

It added that the operation was conducted in connection with two inquiries one of which was led by the federal police in Brussels and the other by an investigating magistrate in Antwerp. “There are links between the two files, but further research will have to show to what extent the two groups were intertwined,” said the statement about the raids.&nbsp;

A judicial source told AFP that those arrested were “very young radicalised people” and possibly a part of some jihadist movement. According to the statement, at least five of those detained were suspected of planning to “commit a terrorist attack in Belgium”. However, in both cases, those accused have not been charged yet.

Some eight people were detained, following Monday’s raid, where the Antwerp inquiry led to five arrests including the one in Eupen, near the German border, while the Brussels probe led to three arrests. The state broadcaster RTBF had previously reported that the investigations in Antwerp and Brussels were initially focused on “two young adults suspected of violent radicalism.”

Notably, these arrests mark the first such terror inquiry to be made public in Brussels since last year, reported AFP. The European nation witnessed a wave of deadly jihadist attacks between 2016 and 2018. Meanwhile, Belgium’s biggest criminal trial, where nine people, accused of taking part in the 2016 suicide bombings is underway in Brussels. 
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The police have arrested eight people following investigations into a potential jihadist plot to commit “terrorist attacks” in Belgium, said the country’s officials, on Tuesday (March 28) as per AFP.

The police have arrested eight people following investigations into a potential jihadist plot to commit “terrorist attacks” in Belgium, said the country’s officials, on Tuesday (March 28) as per AFP. In a statement, the federal prosecutor’s office said that the raids were conducted late Monday on homes in the capital city of Brussels, the port city of Antwerp and the border town of Eupen. It added that the operation was conducted in connection with two inquiries one of which was led by the federal police in Brussels and the other by an investigating magistrate in Antwerp. “There are links between the two files, but further research will have to show to what extent the two groups were intertwined,” said the statement about the raids. A judicial source told AFP that those arrested were “very young radicalised people” and possibly a part of some jihadist movement. According to the statement, at least five of those detained were suspected of planning to “commit a terrorist attack in Belgium”. However, in both cases, those accused have not been charged yet. Some eight people were detained, following Monday’s raid, where the Antwerp inquiry led to five arrests including the one in Eupen, near the German border, while the Brussels probe led to three arrests. The state broadcaster RTBF had previously reported that the investigations in Antwerp and Brussels were initially focused on “two young adults suspected of violent radicalism.” Notably, these arrests mark the first such terror inquiry to be made public in Brussels since last year, reported AFP. The European nation witnessed a wave of deadly jihadist attacks between 2016 and 2018. Meanwhile, Belgium’s biggest criminal trial, where nine people, accused of taking part in the 2016 suicide bombings is underway in Brussels. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Belgium: Eight arrested in ‘terror attack’ probe following house raids

Belgian police carried out a series of raids at football clubs and homes across the country on Wednesday and detained many people for questioning about financial fraud and possible match-fixing, Belgian prosecutors said.

A total of 44 searches were carried out at top Belgian clubs and residences, federal prosecutors said in a statement. At the same time, searches of 13 houses also took place in France, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia.

Prosecutors did not name any clubs or people. Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF said searches had taken place at leading teams including Anderlecht, Club Bruges and Standard Liege.

Prosecutors said the searches were related to an investigation launched at the end of 2017 into suspect financial transactions in the top Belgian league, with possible charges of criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption.

Some agents were suspected of hiding commissions on transfers, players' pay and other payments from the Belgian authorities, the prosecutors said.

"During the investigation, there were indications of possible influencing of matches in the 2017-2018 season," the prosecutors said.

The searches come after Belgium reached the World Cup semi-finals. Most of the national team squad now play abroad but previously played in the Belgian premier league, which is a major feeder of players for top European club sides.&nbsp;

Some of the house searches were carried out at the homes of club directors, football agents, referees, a former lawyer, a trainer, journalists and at an accountancy office.

"A large number of people have been deprived of their liberty and taken in for a thorough interrogation," the prosecutors said, adding that a judge would later decide who should be held in custody or formally arrested.

The searches abroad were chiefly at offices and residences of people used to set up the suspect transactions, the prosecutors said.

Belgian police carried out a series of raids at football clubs and homes across the country on Wednesday and detained many people for questioning about financial fraud and possible match-fixing, Belgian prosecutors said.

Belgian police carried out a series of raids at football clubs and homes across the country on Wednesday and detained many people for questioning about financial fraud and possible match-fixing, Belgian prosecutors said. A total of 44 searches were carried out at top Belgian clubs and residences, federal prosecutors said in a statement. At the same time, searches of 13 houses also took place in France, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia. Prosecutors did not name any clubs or people. Belgian broadcasters VRT and RTBF said searches had taken place at leading teams including Anderlecht, Club Bruges and Standard Liege. Prosecutors said the searches were related to an investigation launched at the end of 2017 into suspect financial transactions in the top Belgian league, with possible charges of criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption. Some agents were suspected of hiding commissions on transfers, players' pay and other payments from the Belgian authorities, the prosecutors said. "During the investigation, there were indications of possible influencing of matches in the 2017-2018 season," the prosecutors said. The searches come after Belgium reached the World Cup semi-finals. Most of the national team squad now play abroad but previously played in the Belgian premier league, which is a major feeder of players for top European club sides. Some of the house searches were carried out at the homes of club directors, football agents, referees, a former lawyer, a trainer, journalists and at an accountancy office. "A large number of people have been deprived of their liberty and taken in for a thorough interrogation," the prosecutors said, adding that a judge would later decide who should be held in custody or formally arrested. The searches abroad were chiefly at offices and residences of people used to set up the suspect transactions, the prosecutors said.

Belgian police raid top football clubs over fraud, match-fixing

The Islamic State group on Wednesday claimed one of its "soldiers" killed two policewomen and a student in the Belgian city of Liege this week, the jihadists' Amaq propaganda agency said.

"The author of the attack on the city of Liege in Belgium is a soldier of the Islamic State," IS said in a statement published on Amaq's Telegram account a day after the attack.

The terror group said "he led the attack in response to calls to target the countries of the US-led international coalition," which is fighting the jihadist group mainly in Syria.

The attacker identified as Benjamin Herman repeatedly stabbed two policewomen in Liege on Tuesday before using their own firearms to kill them, according to investigators in Belgium.

The 31-year-old also shot dead a student sitting in a parked car in the centre of the industrial city.

Belgian police have identified Herman as a drifter who spent a decade in and out of prison for acts of violence and petty crimes.

Prosecutors said his method of attack was a known "modus operandi" of IS, which claimed deadly attacks in Brussels in 2016.

Amateur footage obtained by AFP showed the gunman shouting "Allahu akbar" (Arabic for "God is greatest") as he walked through the streets during the rampage.

The attacker identified as Benjamin Herman repeatedly stabbed two policewomen in Liege on Tuesday

The Islamic State group on Wednesday claimed one of its "soldiers" killed two policewomen and a student in the Belgian city of Liege this week, the jihadists' Amaq propaganda agency said. "The author of the attack on the city of Liege in Belgium is a soldier of the Islamic State," IS said in a statement published on Amaq's Telegram account a day after the attack. The terror group said "he led the attack in response to calls to target the countries of the US-led international coalition," which is fighting the jihadist group mainly in Syria. The attacker identified as Benjamin Herman repeatedly stabbed two policewomen in Liege on Tuesday before using their own firearms to kill them, according to investigators in Belgium. The 31-year-old also shot dead a student sitting in a parked car in the centre of the industrial city. Belgian police have identified Herman as a drifter who spent a decade in and out of prison for acts of violence and petty crimes. Prosecutors said his method of attack was a known "modus operandi" of IS, which claimed deadly attacks in Brussels in 2016. Amateur footage obtained by AFP showed the gunman shouting "Allahu akbar" (Arabic for "God is greatest") as he walked through the streets during the rampage.

IS claims deadly attack on Belgium police

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Belgium: Eight arrested in ‘terror attack’ probe following house raids

Belgian police raid top football clubs over fraud, match-fixing

IS claims deadly attack on Belgium police