- Hillel Neuer Molenbeek, Belgium: Europe’s ‘Jihadi capital’ placed in lockdown while Belgian FM smiles at
#ParisPeaceConference
Three people are arrested as Belgian anti-terror police launch huge raid on the same street in ‘Europe’s jihadi capital’ Molenbeek where Paris attacks mastermind Salah Abdeslam lived
- The district of Brussels is known to be rife with ISIS sympathisers
- Salah Abdeslam was found there after masterminding the Paris attacks
- Perpetrators of the 2004 Madrid bombings and an attack in Belgium lived there
- One of the raids is believed to have been carried out on the street where Abdeslam was arrested
Streets in the ‘jihadi capital of Europe’ have been blocked off as anti-terrorism squads launch a major operation.
Large areas have been cordoned off in the Molenbeek district of Brussels, which is known for being rife with ISIS sympathisers and is not far from the EU headquarters.
A police helicopter has also spotted flying overhead.
A spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office, Ine Van Wymersch, said that four searches were conducted and three people have been detained.
But she added: ‘The operation has ended. Nothing was found, no weapons, no explosives.’
She declined to provide more details but said that the three would be questioned on Sunday to establish whether they should be charged or released.