An official in the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office said that the raids were taking place in Molenbeek and other areas of Brussels.
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Hadfi was one of the three attackers who targeted the Stade de France stadium in Friday’s attacks claimed by the Islamic State group.
The raids were focused on associates of one of the suicide bombers Bilal Hadfi, security sources said.
It still remains unclear whether the suspected “mastermind” behind the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in an apartment raid in Paris yesterday.
Tips and surveillance lead police to the Paris suburb where they launched an assault operation.
‘A new team of terrorists was neutralised and all indications are that given their arms, their organisational structure and their determination, the commando could have struck, ‘ said Paris prosecutor Francois Molins on Wednesday. “There is also the risk from chemical or biological weapons”, he added.
Valls warned lawmakers that Islamic extremists could resort to such weapons, although he did not say there was any specific threat looming.
The premier issued the warning as lawmakers debated extending France’s state of emergency imposed after last week’s attacks in Paris for a further three months.
France has stepped up its airstrikes on Raqqa, Islamic State’s stronghold in Syria, after the militant group said it was behind the attacks.
The sting comes after Belgium’s Prime Minister, Charles Michel, unveiled a $427 million package of new anti-terror measures following the Paris attacks. It contained a text message sent about 20 minutes after the massacre began.
The security bill will not only extend the state of emergency, but allow authorities to put anyone deemed a public threat under house arrest, prevent suspects from communicating with one another and allow police to carry out searches at any time without judge approval if the public is believed endangered.
Michel also called for Belgium’s constitution to be amended – in a bid to increase the length of time a terror suspect can be held in police custody without charge.
Later Thursday Cazeneuve said he had requested a meeting of European interior and justice ministers Friday in Brussels to discuss the fight against terrorism.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Thursday called on the global community to do more to eradicate ISIL.
“It will be voluntary and police who choose to carry a weapon will have to wear an armband to distinguish themselves”, he told radio station RTL.
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President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency and closed France’s borders within hours of the attacks.
