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Belgian Police Arrest Two Terrorist Suspects

by Melissah Yang

According to prosecutors, Belgian authorities arrested two people suspected of planning a New Year's Eve attack in Brussels. The arrests took place on Sunday and Monday and in different areas of the country, according to Reuters. The outlet reports that authorities uncovered ISIS propaganda materials and military clothing, but the searches yielded no firearms or explosives.

According to Agence France-Presse, the investigation was spurred after authorities learned about "serious threats" against "several emblematic sites." One of the people arrested was detained on the suspicious of "playing a lead role in the activities of a terrorist group and recruiting for terrorist acts," prosecutors said. The other person in custody faces charges of "participating in the activities of a terrorist group." Authorities also questioned an additional four individuals who were eventually released.

Anti-terrorism efforts have increased in Belgium and adjoining France since 130 people died in a series of attacks that took place across Paris on Nov. 13. However, prosecutors said the operation was not directly linked to the Paris attacks. Since the time of those horrific assaults, authorities have searched for Salah Abdeslam, a French national believed to have been one of the Paris attackers and who has continued to evade capture since last month.