Isis: Suspected recruiters and supporters arrested in crackdown on new terror cell in Belgium
Police search 15 houses in operation against group planning to travel to Syria
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A suspected terror cell has been arrested in Belgium as authorities continue hunting down Isis supporters.
A new wave of police raids were launched on Tuesday morning, seeing officers search 15 homes in Ghent, Deinze and Antwerp as part of an operation coordinated by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre.
The federal prosecutor’s office said 15 people were taken for questioning, including four who have subsequently charged with terror offences.
“Those persons have been indicted because of participation in the activities of a terrorist group, amongst others its funding,” a spokesperson said.
“Some of them are suspected of recruiting people with a view to departing to Syria and joining Islamic State [Isis] there.”
No guns nor explosives were found and officials said no link had yet been established to the attacks on Brussels Airport and Maalbeek Metro station on 22 March.
The massacres, which killed 32 people, were carried out by the same “super cell” of jihadis who carried out the Paris attacks in November.
Mohamed Abrini, an accomplice of the Paris attackers, was among the Brussels bombers after evading detection by security forces for more than four months.
He was a childhood friend of fellow suspect Salah Abdeslam, whose brother Brahim blew himself up on the Boulevard Voltaire during the Paris attacks.
The pair grew up in Molenbeek, now notorious as a “breeding ground” for extremism, while several other suspects were Belgian and used the country to prepare the atrocities in both Paris and Brussels.
The revelations turned international scrutiny on Belgium’s security services, with interior minister Jan Jambon admitting “inexcusable” blunders with the handling of intelligence.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments