Man detained in Belgium anti-terror operation

Brussels police spokesman Ilse Van de keere said the police had been warned “of a situation involving a suspect in a phone call at around 5.30 (local time)”.

Among those arrested were relatives of the El Bakraoui brothers, who were among the suicide bombers in March.

They are suspected of renting the flat to the attackers and cleaning it a day after the bombings.

The suspect is a 26-year-old man, according to Belgian media.

Belgian soldiers patrol the shopping center City2 in central Brussels, Belgium June 15, 2016.

A man who said he was wearing a bomb belt rigged to explode by remote control caused a major scare in a Brussels commercial district yesterday before police found that the device contained only salt and biscuits. The suspect later admitted that he had made the whole story up.

On Friday, at least 12 people were arrested during anti-terrorist operations across Belgium on suspicion of plotting attacks.

Thirty-two people were also killed on March 22nd in attacks on the Brussels metro and airport. Special police were seen leaving the house, located on Stephenson street, carrying items.

No explosives were found on a man arrested amid an anti-terror operation at a shopping centre in Brussels, the city’s prosecutor’s office says.

Confronted with this information, JB admitted falsifying his story.

The new detentions on Monday followed a series of police raids on homes over the weekend, after which three men were charged with plotting an attack.

The vehicle’s driver was released following questioning. He apparently has a criminal record and is known to have had psychiatric issues in the past.

He has been remanded in custody over the hoax and a psychological assessment has been ordered.

Tuesday’s incident triggered a national crisis centre meeting, attended among others by Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, while the shopping area was cordoned off and stores were temporarily told to stay shut. “We remain vigilant”, Michel said after the meeting.