Belgian police have made 16 arrests in anti-terror raids but suspected Paris attacks "dangerous" gunman, Salah Abdeslam remains at large, the authorities have stated.
A total of 22 raids were carried out yesterday across Brussels and Charleroi, Belgian prosecutor Eric van der Sypt told a news conference.
Police fired two shots at a car during an operation in Molenbeek, injuring one suspect who was later arrested.
No weapons or explosives were found during the searches yesterday, Mr Eric Sypt stated.
Brussels will remain on the highest level of terror alert, Belgium’s Prime Minister Charles Michel stated. Universities, schools and the city’s metro system will also remain shut.
Brussels has been on lockdown all weekend amid a manhunt for Abdeslam, who is suspected of being among the assailants who killed 130 people in Paris on Friday.
Mr Michel told reporters that authorities feared “an attack similar to the one in Paris, with several individuals who could also possibly launch several attacks at the same time in multiple locations”.
Meanwhile, the BBC understands that another of the suspected attackers – pictured in a new French police appeal issued on Sunday – arrived in Greece under the name of M al-Mahmod.
The BBC’s Ed Thomas has matched the image released by French police with a photo on the arrival papers of man who reached the Greek Island of Leros on 3 October.
French police have asked for more information about the man, whom they say was the third suicide bomber to strike the Stade de France on 13 November.
Earlier, Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon said the danger to Belgium was not tied to Abdeslam alone.
“The threat is broader than the one suspected terrorist,” he told Flemish broadcaster VRT.
It was not clear if Mr Jambon was referring to those involved in the Paris attacks, or others who might be planning attacks in Belgium.
Soldiers joined police officers on patrols in Brussels over the weekend. Many public spaces in the usually bustling capital were deserted, as people heeded official warnings to avoid crowds.
Mohammed Abdeslam, the brother of Brahim Abdeslam who blew himself up in Paris and Salah Abdeslam, spoke to Belgian TV yesteday to urge his fugitive brother to hand himself in.
- BBC