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Terror fear douses Brussels party | Terror fear douses Brussels party |
(1 day later) | |
Traditional New Year's Eve fireworks in the Belgian capital Brussels have been cancelled because of a security alert. | |
The Christmas market will close at 1800 instead of staying open all night, and even the ice rink will close early. | The Christmas market will close at 1800 instead of staying open all night, and even the ice rink will close early. |
"We are still facing a potential threat," a spokesman for the Belgian capital said. | "We are still facing a potential threat," a spokesman for the Belgian capital said. |
The alert follows police saying they had discovered a plot to free a jailed al-Qaeda suspect, Nizar Trabelsi. He has denied any such plot. | The alert follows police saying they had discovered a plot to free a jailed al-Qaeda suspect, Nizar Trabelsi. He has denied any such plot. |
Last week police detained 14 people suspected of taking part in the alleged plot. But a judge said there was not enough evidence to hold any of them. | Last week police detained 14 people suspected of taking part in the alleged plot. But a judge said there was not enough evidence to hold any of them. |
Trabelsi himself wrote to a Belgian newspaper to deny any attempt to carry out a jailbreak or terror attack. | Trabelsi himself wrote to a Belgian newspaper to deny any attempt to carry out a jailbreak or terror attack. |
Brussels stepped up security before Christmas | Brussels stepped up security before Christmas |
The government raised security levels, with increased patrols at Brussels airport, transport systems and commercial centres, and says it sees no reason to lower them. | The government raised security levels, with increased patrols at Brussels airport, transport systems and commercial centres, and says it sees no reason to lower them. |
"We've reviewed the situation and the conclusion is that there is no reason to scale back the current level of (terror) alert," Jaak Raas of the government's Crisis Centre said. | "We've reviewed the situation and the conclusion is that there is no reason to scale back the current level of (terror) alert," Jaak Raas of the government's Crisis Centre said. |
Trabelsi, 37, is a Tunisian who came to Europe to play professional football in 1989. | Trabelsi, 37, is a Tunisian who came to Europe to play professional football in 1989. |
He was arrested two days after the 9/11 attacks on targets in New York and Washington, and is now serving 10 years for plotting to blow up an air base in Belgium used by US personnel. | He was arrested two days after the 9/11 attacks on targets in New York and Washington, and is now serving 10 years for plotting to blow up an air base in Belgium used by US personnel. |
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