Brussels (AFP) June 18, 2016 – Belgian authorities on Saturday charged three men with “attempted terrorist murder” after raiding dozens of homes in sweeping anti-terror raids linked to a reported threat to fans during a Euro 2016 football game.
Named by prosecutors as Samir C., Moustapha B. et Jawad B., the trio were among 12 people detained during the overnight raids, hours before thousands of people gathered around screens to watch Belgium play Ireland.
The three have also been charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group”, while the nine others were released after questioning, prosecutors added.
The areas searched included neighborhoods in Brussels where the jihadists behind the gun and bombing attacks in Paris on November and suicide bombings in Brussels in March had planned their assaults.
Prosecutors said they were responding to a need for “an immediate intervention”.
Flemish commercial broadcaster VTM reported that the swoop was connected to a threat linked to Belgium’s fixture against Ireland, held Saturday afternoon in Bordeaux, France.
No incidents were immediately reported after the match which ended with a 3-0 defeat for the Irish, sending Belgians into the streets in celebration.
“Over the coming hours we are going to take additional and updated security measures,” Prime Minister Charles Michel said after a national Security Council meeting to discuss the threat.
But public events planned in the coming days would go ahead, he said, declaring: “We want to continue living normally.”