The crisis center advised the public to avoid places where a lot of people come, such as shopping centers, concerts, sports events or public transport hubs. Service was halted on the Brussels Metro, as well as on streetcar lines that run underground, and residents were urged to stay indoors.
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The threat on civilians in Belgium comes one week after the terror assault on Paris, during which groups of attackers linked to the militant group that calls itself the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, killed at least 130 people in a series of coordinated attacks on the French capital.
The Federal Prosecutors Office in Brussels denied reports that chemicals and explosives were among an arsenal found during searches on Friday night. No further information about the arrest was released.
It also recommended that the 19 communes that make up the Brussels region consider cancelling all other major events due to take place.
The Belgian government will review the protection scenario on Sunday afternoon, Mr Michel added. The Brussels region is now at level 4.
Raising the alert “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”, said CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank.
At least one suspect from the deadly Paris attacks just over a week ago is at large and was last seen crossing into Belgium. They are working to identify and take down the network of terrorists behind the carnage. French police stopped Abdeslam the morning after the attacks at the Belgian border but then let him go. His whereabouts are unknown.
Salah Abdeslam, 26, and his brother Ibrahim Abdeslam – who detonated his suicide belt outside a restaurant – lived Molenbeek, north of Brussels, which has been thrust into the worldwide spotlight as a hotbed for extremism.
Belgium has a central location in Europe; few border controls; a common language with prime jihadi target France; and a political divide between French and Dutch speakers that has long created bureaucratic disarray in justice and security.
He’s considered to possess experienced connection with the suspects who perpetrated the Paris assaults, an official said.
Hundreds of Muslims living in Italy have demonstrated in Rome and Milan against the “abuse” of Islam by those who carried out the attacks in Paris and Mali.
Chris Foreman is spending the weekend in Brussels with his girlfriend but says he has been in his hotel for most of the day because of the security alert.
Abaaoud was once allegedly involved in gangs in Molenbeek.
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The last time any part of the country was put on maximum alert was in May 2014 when a gunman shot dead four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels.
