Heavy Military Presence in Brussels Following Heightened Alert Level

On a day when the security alert in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, was raised to the highest possible level, news agencies reported a heavy presence of police and military forces around intersections, the shutdown of the underground transport system, and the closure of shops due to concerns about a repeat of an "incident similar to the Paris attacks." The Associated Press reported on Saturday evening, citing Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, that the decision to raise the security alert to the highest level was made "based on precise information regarding the risk of an attack similar to the Paris attacks by several armed individuals with bombs and weapons, likely at several different points and simultaneously." The decision to increase the alert level in Belgium was announced during a meeting of the country's anti-terrorism and national security services on Friday night. Observations from a French news agency reporter in Brussels indicated that the city's main square, usually filled with tourists, was empty, with only armored vehicles visible around public buildings. CNN also noted that although Brussels streets were not completely empty on Saturday afternoon, there was a noticeable decrease in traffic. Military forces have made the city appear more secure since Saturday. In this regard, The Guardian reported on the situation in Brussels on Saturday, stating that shops and shopping centers were closed, football matches were canceled, concerts were halted, and museums, music halls, and galleries closed their doors to visitors over the weekend. The Guardian also mentioned the closure of the Brussels metro, which will remain shut until Sunday afternoon. The last time the security alert level in Brussels was raised to the highest level was in May 2014 after armed men attacked the Jewish Museum in the city, killing four people.