Brussels Lockdown: 16 Suspects Arrested in Connection with Paris Attacks

Sixteen suspects have been arrested in Brussels anti-terror raids, but suspected Paris attacks gunman Salah Abdeslam remains at large, Belgian authorities have said.

Some 22 raids were carried out on November 22 across Brussels and Charleroi, the federal prosecutor’s spokesman said.

Brussels remains on the highest level of terror alert. Universities, schools and the metro system will stay closed on November 23.

More than 130 died and 350 were injured in the Paris attacks 10 days ago.

Police fired two shots at a car during an operation in the Brussels district of Molenbeek, injuring one suspect who was later arrested.

Photo Reuters

No weapons or explosives were found during the searches on November 22, spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told a news conference.

French President Francois Hollande said France planned to intensify its air strikes on ISIS targets in Syria.

“We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists,” Francois Hollande said.

He kicks off a week of diplomatic efforts to rally support to crush the group: after meeting UK PM David Cameron on November 23, he will meet President Barack Obama on November 24, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 25 and Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 26.

The French government says the aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle, will be operational in the Mediterranean on November 23 and ready to act against ISIS militants in Syria.

Brussels has been on lockdown all weekend amid a manhunt for Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected of being among the assailants who killed 130 people in Paris on November 13.