The Belgian police arrested 12 people suspected of planning new attacks after about 40 houses were searched across the country overnight, the federal prosecutor’s office said on Saturday.
Europe is on high security alert with the Euro 2016 soccer tournament underway in neighboring France, after suicide bombers killed 32 people in Brussels in March following attacks in Paris in November in which 130 people died, Reuters reported.
“In connection with a criminal investigation concerning terrorism ... 40 persons were taken for questioning. Twelve among them were arrested. The investigating judge will decide on their possible detention later today,” the office said in a statement.
“The investigatory results necessitated an immediate intervention. The investigation continues.”
Investigators have found links between the Brussels and Paris attackers, some of whom were based in Belgium. Belgium’s federal prosecutor’s office said no weapons or explosives were found during the searches, which also involved 152 garage lockups.
A French police couple were stabbed to death outside their home on Monday in an attack claimed by the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group.
