Emergency Status Continues in Belgium; Police in Pursuit of Abdeslam and Abrini

Police forces in France and Belgium have intensified their efforts to locate Salah Abdeslam. Abdeslam is one of the eight suspects in the Paris attacks who is reported to have survived and fled. Meanwhile, Brussels, the capital of Belgium, remains in a state of emergency due to existing security threats. According to investigations, Abdeslam fled to Belgium one day after the deadly Paris attacks that claimed 130 lives, and his presence in the country is one of the main reasons for the emergency declaration. Belgian security forces arrested 16 suspects in a large operation last Sunday, but Salah Abdeslam was not among them. The Belgian prosecutor has issued an arrest warrant for Mohamed Abrini, another suspect, and placed him on the international wanted list. Abrini, 30, is wanted and was seen with Abdeslam two days before the Paris attacks. He was the driver of the Renault vehicle used by the attackers in their assaults in the French capital. Belgian police have stated that he is 'dangerous and possibly armed.' Brussels will remain in a state of emergency in the coming days. Reports indicate that some supermarkets in the capital and two IKEA stores in the suburbs have resumed operations. However, it is still unclear whether the Christmas market in the Grand Place will open in the weeks leading up to Christmas and the New Year. Nearly half of the city's metro lines are set to resume operations from December 4, and schools will also reopen, but 300 police officers and 200 soldiers will join the security forces currently on the streets. On Tuesday, the presidents of the United States and France met and announced that they would intensify their attacks against the so-called 'Islamic State,' which has claimed responsibility for the deadly Paris attacks. Belgian officials have expressed deep concerns about the possibility of similar attacks occurring again. On Saturday, Brussels witnessed an unprecedented presence of military and police forces. Belgian authorities have raised the security alert level to the highest point and have urged people to avoid crowded places. Images sent by Nona Shahbazi, a freelance journalist from Brussels, depict a city that, according to some of its citizens, has resembled a 'ghost town' since Saturday.