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For Third Day, Brussels Is Paralyzed by Terror Dragnet For Third Day, Brussels Is Paralyzed by Terror Dragnet
(about 7 hours later)
BRUSSELS — On what normally would be a bustling Monday, empty streets and an eerie silence attested to the reality that this capital city, the heart of the European Union, had been paralyzed by a terrorist cell answering to the leaders of the Islamic State. BRUSSELS — On what would normally have been a busy Monday, this city in the heart of Europe remained shut down for a third straight day. Everything was closed — the schools, museums, government offices, public transportation, markets, shops, everything.
As universities, shopping malls, museums, food markets, the subway system and even a nursery school shut their doors, the city remained jittery after a number of false alarms involving hotels and even City Hall, which was closed on Monday. And still, the fear of a terrorist attack like the one in Paris was so great that the authorities felt it necessary to tell the public it was O.K. to step outside.
The central square, known as the Grand Place or Grote Markt, was all but deserted, except for a few tourists ambling around a giant Christmas tree. Soldiers patrolled an area normally thronged with shoppers, and armored personnel carriers rolled over cobblestone streets usually choked with cars. “We feel as if we’re taken hostage by the security situation because we’ve had to change our habits, because everything’s closed,” said Deborah Mix, who manages a Bruyerre chocolate shop. “I can’t go do my shopping. I need to be careful when I leave the house. At the same time I feel like the security measures are adding to this climate of fear.”
The level of anxiety was so high that the authorities felt compelled to remind people that they were free to leave their houses, even in Brussels, although they still were recommending that they “avoid unnecessary travel to busy places and comply with any potential security check.” As an eerie silence gripped the capital, with its empty streets and shuttered shops, the authorities announced that a state of high alert would remain in place for all of Belgium at least until the end of the week, though some restrictions would be lifted.
The threat that terrorists aligned with the Islamic State would attack remained both real and unspecified. The authorities said it was real enough to continue to have soldiers in the streets, conduct raids, arrest suspicious people and tell everyone to avoid crowds and unnecessary travel. They even warned the public to be cautious about what they posted on Twitter, to avoid tipping off would-be terrorists about police activity.
What they did not say is exactly what warranted such extreme measures.
“It’s a very strange atmosphere,” said Guy Egerickx, 60, a retiree, who had come out to shop. “It’s something that I’ve never experienced before.”“It’s a very strange atmosphere,” said Guy Egerickx, 60, a retiree, who had come out to shop. “It’s something that I’ve never experienced before.”
The subways and schools are scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a news conference, but in other respects, “the situation remains the same as yesterday.” Of the investigation he said only that the police “are working hard,” and he called on the public to “remain vigilant.” The central square, known as the Grand Place, or Grote Markt, was all but deserted, except for a few tourists ambling around a giant Christmas tree. Soldiers patrolled an area normally thronged with shoppers, and armored personnel carriers rolled over cobblestone streets usually choked with cars.
For many people, it was one thing to be locked down on a weekend, but quite another on a weekday when jobs and chores were supposed to be done. “We feel as if we’re taken hostage by the security situation because we’ve had to change our habits, because everything’s closed,” said Deborah Mix, who manages a Bruyerre chocolate shop. “I can’t go do my shopping. I need to be careful when I leave the house. At the same time I feel like the security measures are adding to this climate of fear.” The authorities announced that Brussels would remain at a level 4 alert, the highest possible, through the week, and the rest of the country would remain at level 3, though it was not entirely clear what that meant given the decision to lift some closures. The subways and schools were scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a news conference, but in other respects, “the situation remains the same as yesterday,” he said.
The greatest fear for Charlie Attar, who runs a shop specializing in winter clothes, was not so much a terrorist attack as a lockdown that extends into the Christmas shopping season. “Usually I get a lot of tourists from Switzerland, the Netherlands, from Scandinavian countries,” he said, puffing nervously on a cigarette. “It’s going to be a catacomb. I need to pay rent. It’s going to get a lot more difficult.” Of the investigation, Mr. Michel said only that the police were “working hard,” and he called on the public to “remain vigilant.”
Those words, meant to reassure, also spread growing concern that this was emerging as the new normal and that the days ahead would face similar unsettling disruptions. Charlie Attar, who runs a shop specializing in winter clothes, said his greatest concern was not so much a terrorist attack as a lockdown that extends into the Christmas shopping season.
“Usually I get a lot of tourists from Switzerland, the Netherlands, from Scandinavian countries,” he said, puffing nervously on a cigarette. “It’s going to be a catacomb. I need to pay rent. It’s going to get a lot more difficult.”
He added, “We’re going to have to start getting used to the idea of living with the army.”He added, “We’re going to have to start getting used to the idea of living with the army.”
In the third day of high alert, the authorities continued their manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, a participant in the Paris terrorist attacks, searching five homes in the Brussels area and two in the Liège region overnight. While the suspect remained at large, the police seized 26,000 euros, or about $27,600, and arrested five people, in addition to the 16 who were detained on Sunday. Michel Vankeerberghen, an official with the Tourism Bureau for Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, said the city was “playing a waiting game,” one that tested the nerves. “On a psychological level, it’s very hard,” he said.
Later Monday, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement that a judge had placed in custody one of the 16 on charges of participating in the terrorist attack in Paris and had released the others. Two of the five arrested this morning have been released, the prosecutor said, while the judge will decide on the others tomorrow. The annual Brussels Christmas market was scheduled to open on Friday, he said, but it was unclear whether the security lockdown would allow that to happen. The stalls that look like little gingerbread houses were all closed on Monday.
The lawyer for one of the 21 individuals arrested since Sunday said that they were friends and relatives of Mr. Abdeslam, and that police were looking to question them on their conversations with him before the Paris attacks. The Christmas market normally attracts 1.5 million visitors, 300,000 of them tourists, said Olivier Mees, who organizes the event. Workers were putting up large decorations on the Boulevard Anspach, in front of the city’s old stock exchange, as soldiers in camouflage looked on.
Michel Vankeerberghen, an official with the Tourism Bureau for Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, said the city was “playing a waiting game,” one that tested the nerves. “On a psychological level, it’s very hard,” Mr. Vankeerberghen said.
The annual Brussels Christmas market was scheduled to open on Friday, he said, but it was unclear whether the security lockdown would allow that to happen. For now, the stalls that look like little gingerbread houses are all shuttered.
The market normally attracts 1.5 million visitors, 300,000 of them tourists, said Olivier Mees, who organizes the event. Workers were putting up large decorations for the Christmas market on the Boulevard Anspach, in front of the city’s old stock exchange, as soldiers in camouflage looked on.
“We’re making preparations, even if we don’t know the market will go on,” said a disgruntled worker, half his face covered to protect from the biting cold.“We’re making preparations, even if we don’t know the market will go on,” said a disgruntled worker, half his face covered to protect from the biting cold.
A soldier nearby, who overheard the conversation, quipped, “We don’t even know if we’ll be here tomorrow.”
Abdel Messaoudi, who manages a Pizza Hut, said that revenues had fallen at least 75 percent since Saturday, when the authorities put the Brussels region on the highest level of alert.Abdel Messaoudi, who manages a Pizza Hut, said that revenues had fallen at least 75 percent since Saturday, when the authorities put the Brussels region on the highest level of alert.
“I’ve never, ever seen Brussels this quiet,” said Mr. Messaoudi, who told his employees not to bother to come to work on Monday because the subway was not operating. Usually this part of the city is teeming with tourists and workers, he said, but the size of crowds has shrunk by at least two-thirds. “I’ve never, ever seen Brussels this quiet,” said Mr. Messaoudi, who told his employees not to come to work on Monday because the subway was closed. Usually this part of the city is teeming with tourists and workers, he said, but the crowds have shrunk by at least two-thirds.
The authorities urged citizens not to discuss police operations on Twitter for fear of tipping off the suspects they were seeking. Many Belgians complied by posting pictures of cats with the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown. There was at least one known reason for the authorities’ heightened concern: On the third day of the high alert, they were still searching for Salah Abdeslam, a participant in the Paris terrorist attacks. The authorities have searched 24 homes in the Brussels area since Sunday evening, detaining 21 people.
The chief target of the police raids — Mr. Abdeslam, a 26-year-old Frenchman who is believed to have taken part in the terrorist attacks in Paris on Nov. 13 — remained at large. A BMW that was pulled over on Sunday night around Liège, which was seized upon by some on the Internet, has “no link at all with the ongoing operation,” according to Eric Van der Sijpt, a magistrate and a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office. Late Monday, the federal prosecutor’s office said in a statement that a judge had placed one person in custody on charges of participating in the terrorist attack in Paris and had released most of the others.
The lawyer for one of the individuals arrested said that they were friends and relatives of Mr. Abdeslam, and that the police were looking to question them on their conversations with him before the Paris attacks.
The chief target of the police raids was Mr. Abdeslam, the 26-year-old Frenchman who remained at large. A BMW that was pulled over on Sunday night around Liège, and that caused much chatter on the Internet, has “no link at all with the ongoing operation,” according to Eric Van der Sijpt, a magistrate and a spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office.
At least four of the attackers in Paris had lived in Belgium, including Mr. Abdeslam and the suspected ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed in a police raid outside Paris last week.At least four of the attackers in Paris had lived in Belgium, including Mr. Abdeslam and the suspected ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed in a police raid outside Paris last week.
In France, where the threat level has abated somewhat in recent days, the health minister said that 169 people were still hospitalized from the attacks, including 34 in intensive care. In France, where the threat level has abated somewhat in recent days, the health minister said 169 people were still hospitalized from the Nov. 13 attacks, including 34 in intensive care.
The country’s finance minister, Michel Sapin, said that France would tighten rules for the use of prepaid bank cards, which can be used anonymously under certain thresholds and were used by the attackers who killed 130 people in Paris and neighboring St.-Denis on the evening of Nov. 13. The country’s finance minister, Michel Sapin, said that France would tighten rules for the use of prepaid bank cards, which can be used anonymously under certain thresholds and were used by the attackers who killed 130 people in Paris and neighboring St.-Denis.
Mr. Sapin also said that the French authorities combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism would be given direct access to the police database of wanted or suspected individuals. He added that the government would introduce legislation to expand the authorities’ ability to freeze the financial assets of terrorism suspects to include vehicles and real estate.Mr. Sapin also said that the French authorities combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism would be given direct access to the police database of wanted or suspected individuals. He added that the government would introduce legislation to expand the authorities’ ability to freeze the financial assets of terrorism suspects to include vehicles and real estate.
For Belgians living with the constant threat and uncertainty, the police presence was reassuring, even for Mukando Fortuna, a young black man, who says he is usually wary of the authorities.For Belgians living with the constant threat and uncertainty, the police presence was reassuring, even for Mukando Fortuna, a young black man, who says he is usually wary of the authorities.
“I’m usually stopped and searched by the police, which really irritates me,” he said, wearing hip sunglasses and chatting with a group of friends. “But this time, they haven’t. They’re cool,” he said. “We’re not scared because of a group of idiots.” “I’m usually stopped and searched by the police, which really irritates me,” he said, wearing sunglasses and chatting with friends. “But this time, they haven’t. They’re cool. We’re not scared because of a group of idiots.”
Not everyone was succumbing to the climate of fear. Philippe Bornauw, who runs the oldest cigar shop in Brussels, just off the Grand Place, called La Tête d’Or, acknowledged the drop-off in sales but said he was defiant. Others also refused to succumb to the climate of fear. Philippe Bornauw, who runs the oldest cigar shop in Brussels, just off the Grand Place, called La Tête d’Or, acknowledged the drop-off in sales but said he was defiant.
“We can’t let us ourselves be taken over by this psychosis,” he said. “I’m going to smoke a cigar and drink Belgian beer, yes, that’s what I’m going to do right this second,” he said, taking out a cigar and lighting it.“We can’t let us ourselves be taken over by this psychosis,” he said. “I’m going to smoke a cigar and drink Belgian beer, yes, that’s what I’m going to do right this second,” he said, taking out a cigar and lighting it.
He brought out cheese and poured himself and a friend dark Belgian beer in two silver tumblers as Frank Sinatra played in the background. “A cigar, jazz and beer, what else?” He chuckled, “Us, we blow ourselves up a cigar.” He brought out cheese and poured himself and a friend dark Belgian beer in two silver tumblers as Frank Sinatra songs played in the background. “A cigar, jazz and beer, what else?” He chuckled. “Us, we blow ourselves up a cigar.”