Belgium charges nine terror suspects after police raids in 3 countries

Belgium charges nine terror suspects after police raids in 3 countries

2010-11-24 23:19:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

ANTWERP, BELGIUM (BNO NEWS) -- Belgium has charged nine people with being linked to a terrorist group following a series of raids that resulted in the arrest of several people in three different countries.

On Tuesday, several terror suspects were arrested in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands during separate operations, which revealed they were planning a terror attack in Belgium, officials said.

A year-long investigation by Belgium authorities resulted in the arrest of an international terror group. After police raids, seven people were arrested in Antwerp, Belgium, while another 15 were detained in Brussels, but 13 were later released.

According to reports, the arrested individuals are Belgian, Dutch, Moroccan, and Russian (Chechen), but throughout the months of investigations, authorities said they had previously arrested several others in Spain, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia.

Dutch authorities confirmed the arrest of three men in Amsterdam at the request of the investigation. In addition, German police also confirmed a separate arrest of an individual near Aachen. All are expected to be extradited to Belgium, authorities said.

All nine people charged are scheduled to appear in court on November 26.

Last week, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said that police and other authorities would step up security at airports and railway stations because of evidence that terrorists are planning to attack the European nation.

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