Explosions and gunfire during police operations in Brussels attacks

World Today

Intense terror sweeps in Brussels, days after those deadly attacks at the airport and metro.

Three separate raids lead to new arrests. One man even reportedly caught with a backpack full of explosives.

CCTV America’s Kate Parkinson reports from Brussels.

Dramatic scenes in Brussels on Friday, explosions and gunfire during a major police operation in Schaerbeek which one of the city’s five districts with heavy Muslim populations.

The man was shot in the leg by police, a bomb disposal robot checked for explosives before police dragged him away.

One of nine people arrested in Belgium since Thursday. Three have since been released. Police are looking for two key suspects.

‘Man in White’ who was seen at the airport with the two suicide bombers and has been on the run ever since.

And a man who had seen with metro bomber, Khalid el-Bakraoui, shortly before he blew himself up.

Meanwhile, in France, a man with known links to the Paris attackers was arrested on Thursday.

Authorities say his capture foiled a new militant plot that was at an advance stage.

The string of arrests came as U.S Secretary of State John Kerry met with Belgium leaders on Friday and pledged further help to Europe in its fight against ISIL, or Daesh.

“President (Barack) Obama, myself and others, our mission to defeat and destroy Daesh is not going to be accomplished overnight. It’s going to take some time and patience and persistence. It will require resources and commitment and cooperation across may cultures and beliefs and the recognition that this is in fact truly a global challenge,” John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State said.

The attacks have laid bare intelligence shortcomings, but Kerry defended Belgium’s counter-terrorism efforts.

The wave of police operations in Belgium, and elsewhere in Europe, these past days suggest an urgency to uncover the plot behind Tuesday’s bombings and prevent anything like it from happening again.


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CCTV’s Olly Barrat reports.


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