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Metro and schools to reopen in Brussels from Wednesday

The Belgian Prime Minister has announced that the Metro and schools in Brussels will reopen on We...
Newstalk
Newstalk

23.20 22 Nov 2015


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Metro and schools to reopen in...

Metro and schools to reopen in Brussels from Wednesday

Newstalk
Newstalk

23.20 22 Nov 2015


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The Belgian Prime Minister has announced that the Metro and schools in Brussels will reopen on Wednesday.

However, the city's security level will remain at its highest level until at least Monday.

Belgian authorities have also charged a man with involvement in the Paris terror attacks.

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He was among those held during raids overnight, and becomes the fourth suspect to face charges.

Five more people were arrested today in Belgium bringing the number taken into custody by police in the last 24 hours to 21.

The government said last night that fugitive Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam was not among those detained in raids last night but it is not known if he has been captured in the latest raids.

At a news conference shortly after midnight, officials said a total of 19 houses were searched in the city - and during the operations, police fired two shots at a vehicle in Molenbeek.

One of those arrested was injured when his car tried to ram into police during an attempted getaway.

Eric Van der Sypt, a Belgian federal prosecutor, said no firearms or explosives were discovered.

The Belgian prosecutor's office has since said that the five extra detainees were taken into custody during five raids in Brussels and two in Liege.

During the searches, €26,000 was seized, it revealed.

Earlier, there were reports that Abdeslam was in a BMW heading towards the German border but authorities have now said that car was not linked to the ongoing operation.

With an alleged terrorist still at large, schools, universities and the Metro transport system in Brussels are remaining closed on Monday - after the Belgian prime minister expressed fears that individuals could "launch several attacks at the same time in multiple locations".

Brussels remains on the highest terror threat level, which indicates that an attack is "imminent" - while the rest of the country is on the second-highest level, to reflect an incident is "probable".

The army and police presence has been boosted in the capital to protect targets such as shops and public transport.

Belgium has been at the centre of investigations into the Paris attacks after it emerged that two of the suicide bombers lived in the district of Molenbeek.

French police have issued a photograph of the third man involved in the suicide blasts at the Stade de France - with officials admitting they do not know who he is.

A police source fears that Abdeslam, who is said to have travelled from Paris to Belgium shortly after the French massacre of 130 people, could be "trapped and desperate" in Brussels.

Sky News correspondent Enda Brady is in Brussels. He told Newstalk Breakfast Salah Abdeslam still remains at large, as the city is in lockdown.

Eurostar is allowing anyone booked to travel to Brussels on Monday to postpone their trip.

Meanwhile, Great Britain's Davis Cup team, including Andy Murray, was due to head to Belgium on Monday despite the continuing security alert - a day later than originally planned.

British prime minister David Cameron travelled to France today to meet French President Francois Hollande to discuss the response to the terror attacks.


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