10 arrested in Belgium linked to Islamic State recruitment

Computer equipment and mobile phones were seized in the raids, and a judge will determine later on Tuesday if charges should be brought against any of the suspects.

Belgian police arrested people in the Brussels area who were allegedly part of a network recruiting people to fight with the terror group in Syria, prosecutors said.

In the interests of the ongoing prosecution investigators will not be releasing any more information, but the examining magistrate will reportedly decide later if any of the suspects who were taken for questioning will actually be arrested. In total nine properties were raided in the Brussels districts of Molenbeek, Koekelberg, Schaerbeek and Etterbeek, Xinhua nes agency reported.

The Belgian government has recently approved a plan to combat Islamic radicalism and extremist violence by hiring 1,000 new police officers over the next four years.

The minister said 300 new officers will be added in Molenbeek and other neighbourhoods with a history of radical Islam.

Belgium beefed up its security system with deployment of armed military men after Paris attacks.

Belgium has one of the highest per capita rates of participation in militant groups such as Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.