Belgian authorities have nabbed 14 people, identified as "Muslim extremists" who were apparently planning to break another extremist out of jail. Security has been tightened all across the country as a result of the arrests. There appears to be a great deal of unease about whether the police got all the people involved and fears of other retaliations from uncaught extremists.
Security was heightened across the capital, at airports and subway stations out of precaution, officials said.
"Other acts of violence are not to be excluded," Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said. He said authorities had "elements of information which point to the preparation of an attack."
Lieve Pellens, spokeswoman of the federal prosecutor's office, said security also was being stepped up at Christmas markets.
"Since it could not be excluded that the group had other plans and because of the heightened terror threat this time of year, it was decided no risk should be taken," Pellens said.
The suspects sought to free Nizar Trabelsi, a 37-year-old Tunisian who played soccer for several German teams and who was sentenced to the maximum 10 years in prison four years ago, authorities said.
He had admitted planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at Kleine Brogel, a Belgian air base where about 100 American military personnel are stationed and where U.S. nuclear weapons are believed to be stored.
Trabelsi testified that he intended kill American soldiers.
Its a good news bad news situation. They got 14 of them, but they really appear to be nervous that there are still more out there. Other media is reporting the nervousness as well. Reuters is reporting it this way:
"There are indications a terrorist attack could be in preparation," Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt told a news conference.
Have yourself a nervous little Christmas. Here's hoping they disrupted any preparations.
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