Sixteen arrested in late-night raids but key target remains at large, while Brussels heads into a third day of lockdown with schools and metro system closed.
Suspected Paris attacker Salah Abdelslam is still on the run after he evaded a series of late-night police raids in Belgium and the country headed into a third day of lockdown.
Officials said they arrested at least 16 suspects in 19 raids late on Sunday night aimed at rolling up a terrorist network which authorities believe is planning an attack similar to the one which left 130 people dead in Paris 10 days ago.
No weapons or explosives were found during the raids, and the failure to capture Abdeslam will further undermine wavering confidence in the competence of Belgium’s counter-terrorist agencies.
Eric van der Sypt, Belgium’s public prosecutor, told a news conference early on Monday that a judge would review the detentions of the 16 arrested. In one incident, police fired on a car that was later found in Brussels, but it was not clear, van der Sypt said, if it was linked to the case.
“Abdeslam Salah was not found during the raids,” he added.
The operation came hours after the prime minister announced reinforced security measures and a third day of lockdown in Brussels.
Info:theguardian
