Belgium: 6 detained over foiled train attack

Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office identified the three Belgian men charged with attempted terrorist murders as Samir C, aged 27, Moustapha B, 40, and Jawad B, 29.

Tensions remain high in France, which is now hosting the Euro 2016 soccer championship, and in Belgium, where authorities conducted a major anti-terror raid over the weekend and have restricted access to some subway stations.

“With each terrorist or possible terrorist we arrest, we can diminish the threat…but the terror threat level 3 [out of 4] means that the chance of a terrorist attack is still large”.

Meanwhile, 9 of the 12 suspects arrested in Brussels on Friday night during a large-scale anti-terrorist operation have been released after questioning by examining magistrates.

Following the arrests, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel stressed that all football-related events should continue as planned, however, fans should expect “extra security measures” to be in place. Belgium won 3-0 against Ireland. Please see our terms of service for more information.

Belgian police on Monday (Jun 20) briefly detained six people in connection with a foiled attack past year on a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, prosecutors said.

On August 21, Moroccan Ayoub El Khazzani boarded the train in Brussels armed with a Kalashnikov and other arms but was overpowered by a group of Americans and a Briton as he opened fire.

Prosecutors said police were responding to a need for “an immediate intervention”. He wounded three people before being overpowered by several passengers, including members of the US military.

“The blind terrorism does not know borders and only wants to spread death and fear”, he said.

Gabriele Steinhauser contributed to this article.