Belgium raises maximum terrorism alert in Brussels to Level 4 due to the risk of imminent threat 12111152

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Defence & Security News - Belgium
 
Belgium raises maximum terrorism alert in Brussels to Level 4 due to the risk of imminent threat.
Belgium raised the alert status for its capital Brussels to the highest level on Saturday November 21, 2015, shutting the metro and warning the public to avoid crowds because of a "serious and imminent" threat of an attack. The alert level for Belgium was raised to Level 4 following the Paris attacks to level three out of four, implying a "possible or probable" threat. Previously, only certain sites, such as the U.S. embassy, were at level three.
     
Belgium raised the alert status for its capital Brussels to the highest level on Saturday November 21, 2015, shutting the metro and warning the public to avoid crowds because of a "serious and imminent" threat of an attack. The alert level for Belgium was raised to Level 4 following the Paris attacks to level three out of four, implying a "possible or probable" threat. Previously, only certain sites, such as the U.S. embassy, were at level three. Belgian soldiers guarding the entrance to the European Commission headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015.
     
Belgium raised its terrorism alert to the highest level in the capital Brussels on Saturday, with the OCAM national crisis centre warning of an "imminent threat" a week after the Paris attacks.
 

"Following our latest evaluation... the centre has raised its terror alert to level 4, signifying a very serious threat, for the Brussels region," it said, as Europe tightens security after Islamic State militants killed 130 people in the French capital. "The analysis shows a serious and imminent threat requiring specific security measures as well as detailed recommendations to the population," said OCAM, which is part of the Belgian interior ministry, in a statement.

The centre urged citizens to avoid crowded areas such as concerts and transport hubs in Belgium's capital, which is also home to the European Union and NATO headquarters.

Belgium has also deployed soldiers in the streets of the capital to make join patrol with the national police to protect tourist areas, train stations, airports and public transport.

The capital of Belgium as a whole was last at the level four for about a month at the end of 2007 and the start of 2008, when authorities intercepted a plot to free convicted Tunisian Nizar Trabelsi. Brussels' traditional New Year fireworks display was cancelled.