Paris attacks: Brussels on highest terror alert

Authorities in Turkey arrested three suspected Islamic State militants Saturday – one who reportedly scouted sites targeted in the Paris attacks.

Armed police swooped on the men yesterday afternoon says reports from Belgium.

The Belgian authorities responded by placing Brussels on its highest level of alert.

Residents have been advised to avoid areas where large numbers of people gather, including concerts, major events, train stations and airports, public transit and commercial districts. However, it also added that it will continue to monitor the situation and review the state of affairs to decide on maintaining emergency level 4 state further. Amri and Attou were arrested after returning to Brussels and have since been charged with “complicity in terrorist attacks and participation in the activities of terrorist organizations”.

“It suggests they have something specific and credible at the intelligence front pointing them in the direction that there may be a terrorist plot in the works”, he said.

The government has warned that there could be a repeat of Paris-style attacks in the country’s capital, prompting the closure of subways in Brussels and the deployment of heavily armed police and soldiers.

“There are a few hypotheses to take into account: Was he part of the group [of terrorists]?” The warning additionally urged USA citizens to “exercise caution in public transportation systems, sporting events, residential areas, business offices, shopping malls and other tourist destinations”. The worldwide manhunt for Abdeslam remains underway.

A third brother, Mohamed Abdeslam told RTBF television Sunday he believed Salah had changed his mind at the last moment and had not gone through with his attack. His whereabouts are unknown.

The minister said that after the Paris attacks “the probability of a ground operation is increasing, but nothing has been decided yet”. Though he’s a French national, he was born in Belgium.

That’s one of several connections between this latest attack and Belgium, a country seen as fertile ground for jihadist recruiters.

American Ricky Stevenson lives in Paris.

He was killed during a raid by French security forces in a Paris suburb on November 18.

Following this, the French Police had also responded by raiding apartment building where in three terrorists said to be associated with the attacks along with the mastermind of the attacks had holed up.

Abaaoud was once allegedly involved in gangs in Molenbeek.

The mayor of one of Brussels’ municipalities has told Belgian media that the capital is still facing a grave threat.

In a clip from the interview with Vice News, which will be released in full next week, an emotional Hughes said: “A great reason why so many were killed was because so many people wouldn’t leave their friends”.

The five other attackers who died had links to France and Belgium.

Last week’s attacks in Paris involving gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people.

Abdeslam and his older brother, Ibrahim, who blew himself up at a Paris cafe during the deadly rampage, both hailed from Molenbeek.

One source familiar with investigators’ thinking told CNN: “His movements make no sense”.

Officials in France and Belgium would not comment on Dahmani.