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| Explosion takes place at Brussels Criminology Institute – report | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A bomb has exploded at Brussels Criminology Institute, according to Belgian broadcaster RTL. A car slammed through the barriers at 3 am local time, with one or several attackers exploding the bomb near the labs. | A bomb has exploded at Brussels Criminology Institute, according to Belgian broadcaster RTL. A car slammed through the barriers at 3 am local time, with one or several attackers exploding the bomb near the labs. |
| The building was empty and nobody was injured in the explosion, RTL added. | The building was empty and nobody was injured in the explosion, RTL added. |
| One conflicting source reported that no bomb had been involved, but, rather, solid fuel had been ignited, according to VRT media outlet. | |
| Some experts are leaning more towards crime than terrorism as a possible explanation. Philippe Box, a criminal expert, told RTBF broadcaster that an attack organized in such a way that there are no victims could suggest criminal activity, saying an attempt may have been made to set the building on fire in order to destroy evidence, according to Interfax news agency. | |
| Others say the attack has yet again exposed a major shortcoming in Europe’s security and intelligence systems. | |
| “This is no surprise that this happened… Authorities have clearly ignored specialists in Europe, [and] the terrorist group [Islamic State] is exploring possible vulnerability,” Ricardo Baretzky from the European Centre for Information Policy and Security told RT. | |
| The attackers have chosen “an unusual way [to conduct the intrusion],” but “any attack in any form is a terrorist attack,” he said. | |
| To avoid a repeat, the European authorities should “begin to listen to the real specialists, those who are on the ground, create international database to prevent this type of criminal activities, bring international coordination programs to Europe.” | |
| Belgium has been on terror alert (level three, with a maximum of four) since bomb attacks hit the city’s airport and metro, leaving 32 people dead. Islamic State claimed responsibility for those terrorist acts. | Belgium has been on terror alert (level three, with a maximum of four) since bomb attacks hit the city’s airport and metro, leaving 32 people dead. Islamic State claimed responsibility for those terrorist acts. |
| Brussels police have been carrying out regular raids since the March attacks to look for potential terrorist suspects. | Brussels police have been carrying out regular raids since the March attacks to look for potential terrorist suspects. |
| In one of those latest raids in mid-June, at least 12 people were arrested on suspicion of plotting attacks, of which three were charged and nine released, according to the prosecutor. | In one of those latest raids in mid-June, at least 12 people were arrested on suspicion of plotting attacks, of which three were charged and nine released, according to the prosecutor. |
| The raids are mainly conducted in a Muslim area of Brussels called Molenbeek, which is often referred to as an “Islamist hotspot.” | The raids are mainly conducted in a Muslim area of Brussels called Molenbeek, which is often referred to as an “Islamist hotspot.” |
| With a population of 11 million people, Belgium has become the source of more Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) recruits than any other European country, the UN Working Group said back in June. | With a population of 11 million people, Belgium has become the source of more Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) recruits than any other European country, the UN Working Group said back in June. |