Belgian police detained a man near a central Brussels shopping centre early on Tuesday, prompting a meeting of the prime minister and the national crisis response centre after initial suspicions that he was carrying explosives.
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Police sealed off the streets around the shopping centre as an investigation got under way.
J.B. recently informed police that he had been enlisted to join the Islamic State extremist organization in Syria, but Brussels prosecutors weren’t able to prove or disapprove his claim, Kechiche said.
The incident began at about 6:30am (0430 GMT) Tuesday after a report of a man acting suspiciously near the City 2 shopping center triggered a bomb alert, broadcaster RTL reported.
No arms or explosives were found and the prosecutor’s office said no further information would be made public about the people detained or the items seized in the police searches.
Police in hoods and military were seen patrolling around at least one major entry to the City 2 shopping center was shut with police cars outside.
Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters that the situation was “under control” but that security services remain “extremely vigilant”, according to local news site, L’Echo.
Some entrances to a nearby metro station were blocked off.
After Saturday’s swoop, Michel said the country would be taking “additional and updated security measures”.
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Isis terrorists struck in Belgium in March, in two coordinated attacks that led to 32 people being killed by suicide bombers at the city airport, and an underground station.
