Belgian police announced the arrest of two brothers, identified as Nourredine and Hamza H., on Saturday, August 9, on suspicion of planning attacks in the country. The nationality of the two suspects has not yet been disclosed. They were arrested on the evening of Friday, August 8, during a house-to-house search by police in the French-speaking areas of Liège and Mons. According to the Associated Press, the house searches were conducted under the orders of a judge responsible for terrorism investigations. The Belgian federal prosecutor stated on Saturday that there is currently no evidence linking the two suspects to the suicide attacks that occurred in Brussels last March. The statement also mentioned that no weapons or explosives were found at the suspects' residence. According to Reuters, a court is set to decide on Saturday whether to continue the detention or release the two brothers. The French news agency reported that the Belgian Ministry of the Interior announced that 457 citizens of Belgium have left or attempted to join jihadist groups in the Middle East, of which 90 have been killed or gone missing. Since the bombings in April at the airport and a metro station in Brussels, increased security measures have been implemented in Belgium. During the March 22 attacks on the airport and a metro station in Brussels, for which the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility, 34 people were killed and many others injured. Belgian officials stated that these attacks were linked to the deadly attacks in Paris in November 2015. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for the July 14 attack in Nice, southern France, where a Tunisian-French attacker drove a truck into citizens celebrating Bastille Day, resulting in 84 deaths and over 300 injuries. The last attack by the Islamic State in France occurred on August 5, when two attackers stormed a church in Normandy, killing an 84-year-old priest. In this context, deadly attacks in Western Europe have been ongoing since 2014.
Arrest of Two Brothers Suspected of Planning Attacks in Belgium
Belgian police arrested two brothers suspected of planning attacks in Belgium, with no evidence linking them to previous attacks. Increased security measures have been implemented in Belgium following past terrorist incidents, highlighting ongoing concerns about jihadist activities in Europe.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Belgian police arrested two brothers suspected of planning attacks in Belgium. No evidence links them to previous attacks, and no weapons or explosives were found.
- The arrests were made during house searches in Liège and Mons.
- A court is set to decide on the continuation of their detention.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Belgium has been on high alert since the 2016 Brussels attacks, which were linked to ISIS and part of a broader pattern of jihadist activities in Europe.
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