Belgian police carry out raids as PM vows to combat extremism

Meanwhile, Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe says South Africa’s government condemns the attacks in Paris, Lebanon and Nigeria over the last week.

French President Francois Hollande said the coordinated suicide bombings and shootings that killed at least 129 people had been planned in Belgium.

Michel also said “lives have been saved” because of a terror cell involving Abaaoud that Belgian security broke up in a raid in January, killing two jihadists.

BRUSSELS – Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel pledged a security crackdown and an extra €400m to fight Islamist violence on Thursday, while rejecting criticism of Belgium’s security services in the wake of the Paris attacks.

“Also I don’t accept the criticism seeking to disparage our security services, who do a hard and tough job”, Michel said.

The state of emergency expands police powers to carry out arrests and searches, and allows authorities to forbid the movement of persons and vehicles at specific times and places.

The official said in an email sent late Wednesday that authorities have not been able to confirm that the group was attempting to travel to Germany illegally by posing as refugees, as suggested by Turkish media.

The French government has claimed that Molenbeek is where last Friday’s attacks on Paris were prepared – the deadliest in France’s history. Seven of those were held related to an investigation opened at the start of the year into the departure to Syria of Belgium-based Bilal Hadfi.

“For jihadis who return, their place is in prison”, said Michel.

France is set to call for the rapid adoption of an EU database of airline passengers – long-stalled in the European Parliament due to privacy concerns.

Michel said he would introduce a system for people considered a threat that would “impose the wearing of an electronic bracelet”.

Michel also vowed to support French military efforts fighting the self-styled “Islamic State” (IS) by sending a vessel to escort the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the eastern Mediterranean.