13 arrested over Belgian terror plot

Police in Belgium say they've dismantled a terror cell and its support network after arresting 13 people during raids in which two suspects were shot dead.

Forensic police officers look for evidence

Belgian police have arrested 13 people in a dozen raids, smashing a plot to kill police officers. (AAP)

Belgian police have arrested 13 people during a dozen raids overnight, smashing plot to kill police officers "in public roads and in police stations", prosecutors say.

Two Islamist suspects were shot dead during a gun battle after one of the police raids in the eastern town of Verviers on Thursday night.

"The group was on the verge of carrying out terrorist attacks to kill police officers in public roads and in police stations," spokesman Eric Van der Sijpt told a news conference.

Police found Kalashnikov assault rifles, explosives, ammunition and communications equipment - along with police uniforms that could have been used for the plot, he said.

Belgium will also seek the extradition of two Belgian suspects from France, although there is no link seen with last week's Paris attacks, prosecutors told a news conference a day.

"I can confirm that we started this investigation before the attacks in Paris," Van der Sijpt said.

The "important arrests" meant that "not only a terror cell but also their support network" have been dismantled, he added.


Share

1 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world