Europe on high alert
18 Jan 2015 11:44 PM GMT
Police across Britain have also been put on high alert and warned they may be targeted in terror attacks following the foiled assault on officers in Belgium this week by Islamists with links to Syria. The threat against police has been raised to severe, the highest level yet, with police chiefs considering the more widespread deployment of Taser stun guns as an additional security measure.
More than 20 people have been arrested in Belgium, France and Germany and Belgium has joined France in deploying troops alongside police. Security has been tightened in several countries after last week’s attacks in Paris left 17 people dead. There are increased concerns about the return of young Europeans who have gone to fight with militants in the Middle East.
In Belgium, five persons were charged on Friday with “participating in the activities of a terrorist group” following a series of raids that began on Thursday evening and left two suspects dead.
Guns, ammunitions and explosives, as well as police uniforms and a large amount of money, were all seized by police during the operation. On Friday, the Belgian government also announced new measures to deal with terrorist suspects that include making travelling abroad for terrorist activities a crime and expanding the cases where Belgian citizenship can be revoked for dual nationals who are thought to pose a terror risk. No link has been established between the terrorist plot in Belgium and last week’s attacks in Paris.
Last weekend, Islamic State propaganda renewed a call for followers to attack the police. New York City police have already issued urgent safety advice to officers to watch the hands of anyone approaching them, and other measures. Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The level of extreme terrorism we are facing on an international scale cannot be underestimated and the police service and its security partners are doing all they can.
More than 20 people have been arrested in Belgium, France and Germany and Belgium has joined France in deploying troops alongside police. Security has been tightened in several countries after last week’s attacks in Paris left 17 people dead. There are increased concerns about the return of young Europeans who have gone to fight with militants in the Middle East.
In Belgium, five persons were charged on Friday with “participating in the activities of a terrorist group” following a series of raids that began on Thursday evening and left two suspects dead.
Guns, ammunitions and explosives, as well as police uniforms and a large amount of money, were all seized by police during the operation. On Friday, the Belgian government also announced new measures to deal with terrorist suspects that include making travelling abroad for terrorist activities a crime and expanding the cases where Belgian citizenship can be revoked for dual nationals who are thought to pose a terror risk. No link has been established between the terrorist plot in Belgium and last week’s attacks in Paris.
Last weekend, Islamic State propaganda renewed a call for followers to attack the police. New York City police have already issued urgent safety advice to officers to watch the hands of anyone approaching them, and other measures. Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The level of extreme terrorism we are facing on an international scale cannot be underestimated and the police service and its security partners are doing all they can.
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