Arrests of Several Suspects in Belgium's Anti-Terrorism Operations

Belgian police arrested several individuals on Sunday as part of 13 anti-terrorism operations. Concurrently, reports indicate that riot police used water cannons to disperse hundreds of protesters in the heart of Brussels. The attacks last Tuesday at the Brussels airport and metro left over 30 dead and around 300 injured, and while groups of citizens were preparing for a supportive march on Sunday, the Belgian Interior Minister called for the cancellation of the event. However, Reuters reports that despite the government's request to cancel the solidarity march for the victims of the terror attack, hundreds of protesters gathered in the city's stock exchange square. Local media described these protesters as mostly dressed in black, characterized by right-wing nationalists chanting slogans against ISIS, but the Mayor of Brussels referred to this group, which was dispersed by riot police, as 'thugs.' Reuters reports that although most of the protests on Sunday were peaceful, riot police used water cannons to disperse them. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel condemned the disruption of the calm atmosphere in the stock exchange square, stating that 'this action was inappropriate and I strongly condemn it.' German news agency described the protesters as 450 football supporters dressed in black, some appearing intoxicated, chanting 'Hooligans of Belgium; this is our home.' The news agency also cited local sources stating that these individuals had come from the town of Vilvoorde, north of Brussels. Concurrently, Belgian police announced the arrest of four individuals in connection with anti-terrorism operations in Brussels and two other cities. On Sunday, Belgian police conducted operations at 13 locations to track individuals linked to sabotage activities, arresting 9 people, five of whom were released after initial questioning. Meanwhile, the Belgian prosecutor charged an individual, who was arrested a few days earlier, with planning sabotage operations in Paris. On the same day, Italian police also arrested an Algerian citizen for allegedly providing fake documents to the Brussels attackers, but the detained individual refused to answer police questions. So far, in dozens of anti-terrorism operations in Belgium, Germany, France, and Turkey, several individuals have been arrested on charges of links to extremist Islamist groups and planning sabotage operations.