Belgium security forces arrested 12 people during late-night raids across the country on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks. Flemish public broadcaster VTM said that the arrested people were planning on launching an attack on the weekend during one of Belgium's matches in the Euro 2016 football tournament, according to Al Jazeera.
"In connection with a criminal investigation concerning terrorism... 40 persons were taken for questioning. Twelve among them were arrested. The investigating judge will decide on their possible detention later today," the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement, according to Al Jazeera.
As many as 16 communes in Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia were raided in the security sweep. The operation happened smoothly, the statement read. Among the communes that were raided by the police was also Molenbeek, which has become notorious for its links to jihadists.
The security forces have not recovered any arms and ammunition yet.
The government has not raised the threat level, which was at its highest during the terror attacks in an airport and metro station in Brussels in March, in the country.
The twin attacks, responsibility for which was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), had killed 32 people. The country has launched multiple raids and arrested dozens of people since then. The attacks came days after Salah Abdeslam, who was reportedly involved in Paris attacks, was arrested. He was later extradited to France.
