Belgian authorities conducted a sweeping round of anti-terrorism raids late Friday and early Saturday, arresting 12 people in an investigation that prosecutors said required “immediate intervention”.
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Of the 40 people taken for interrogation, 12 were arrested.
Belgian authorities did not connect the raids to the March 22 attacks on the Brussels airport and metro that left 32 dead.
The overnight raids in Brussels took place in 16 municipalities across the country and “passed off without incident”, the prosecutors said in a statement.
Investigators have confirmed links between the perpetrators, some of whom were based in Belgium. No arms or explosives were found, the prosecutor said.
“Evidence gathered as part of the instruction necessitated to intervene immediately”, said Saturday the federal prosecution, which centralizes counterterrorism investigations in Belgium.
At the same time, four top ministers, including Michel, Jambon and Justice Minister Koen Geens received special protection following unspecified threats.
It is hard to put an exact figure on the number of people with Irish citizens in Belgium.
Areas where fans watch matches in Brussels were potential targets, as well as other crowded areas such as shopping centers and stations, Belgian media reported.
Meanwhile, a Belgian national named as Youssef EA was arrested on Friday and charged on suspicion of terrorist activities in connection with the March attacks, which were claimed by IS. However, it is estimated that 30,000 Irish live in the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The arrested people will appear before the investigating judge, added the reports.
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The Belgians team – nicknamed the Red Devils – are due to play the Republic of Ireland in Bordeaux at 2pm this afternoon.
