Four suspects plotted attack on Brussels concert hall Botanique

The four people detained in an anti-terrorist operation in Belgium on Sunday were planning to attack the Botanique concert hall in Brussels, the federal prosecutor's office said on Monday.

Three underage suspects and one adult were detained on Sunday during an anti-terrorist operation in Brussels, Ninove, Charleroi and Liège. The four suspects had been in contact with each other over the internet and were allegedly plotting to carry out an attack. 

Their conversations included references to the Islamic State terrorist group, and the four are also said to have searched the dark web for weapons.

"It seems that a Brussels concert hall was specifically and concretely targeted, with an action planned within a few weeks"

No weapons or explosives were found during the searches on Sunday morning. The target of their plot is said to have been the Botanique concert hall.

"According to the first elements of the investigation, it seems that a Brussels concert hall was specifically and concretely targeted, with an action planned within a few weeks," the federal prosecutor's office said.

The adult suspect was brought before a Brussels investigating judge specialising in terrorism and arrested on Monday. "He was charged with participating in the activities of a terrorist group and preparing acts with a view to committing a terrorist attack," the federal prosecutor's office said.

An investigating judge from Dendermonde has been assigned to question the three minors. The public prosecutor's office did not give any information on the next steps to be taken against them.

(KOR)

^{© BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT}