European Knight
09-20-2014, 12:37 PM
Brussels (dpa) - Belgian prosecutors have in recent months foiled several attacks planned by radicalized former fighters in Syria or sympathisers with the Islamic State militant group, prosecutors told Belga news agency Saturday.
"We are paying full attention to the issue of former combatants," said Jean-Pascal Thoreau, a spokesman for the federal prosecution office.
"We are collaborating with the security services, and that has led to several operations and arrest warrants," he added.
L‘Echo newspaper quoted judicial sources as saying that the planned attacks were comparable to the May 24 shooting of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. The alleged perpetrator, Mehdi Nemmouche, is believed to have fought with jihadist groups in Syria.
It reported that several suspects had been arrested and were under detention, adding that Belgian authorities had deliberately kept the information quiet, so as not to raise alarm.
No details have been released about the alleged plots as inquiries are still underway, according to the paper.
Up to 400 Belgians are thought to have travelled to Syria to fight alongside jihadist groups, L‘Echo wrote, adding that 90 have since returned.
Several returnees areunder permanent police surveillance. A source told the newspaper that at least 10 of them intend to launch an attack.
http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/1st-leadbelgium-foils-jihadist-attacksby-helen-maguire-dpa_356080.html
"We are paying full attention to the issue of former combatants," said Jean-Pascal Thoreau, a spokesman for the federal prosecution office.
"We are collaborating with the security services, and that has led to several operations and arrest warrants," he added.
L‘Echo newspaper quoted judicial sources as saying that the planned attacks were comparable to the May 24 shooting of four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels. The alleged perpetrator, Mehdi Nemmouche, is believed to have fought with jihadist groups in Syria.
It reported that several suspects had been arrested and were under detention, adding that Belgian authorities had deliberately kept the information quiet, so as not to raise alarm.
No details have been released about the alleged plots as inquiries are still underway, according to the paper.
Up to 400 Belgians are thought to have travelled to Syria to fight alongside jihadist groups, L‘Echo wrote, adding that 90 have since returned.
Several returnees areunder permanent police surveillance. A source told the newspaper that at least 10 of them intend to launch an attack.
http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/1st-leadbelgium-foils-jihadist-attacksby-helen-maguire-dpa_356080.html