Soldiers and armoured vehicles could stay on Belgian capital’s streets into next week amid fears of imminent Paris-style attack in the heart of the EU

Several terrorists remain at large in Brussels and threaten to commit a “very dangerous act”, a senior official has said, as the Belgian capital enters its second day with soldiers and armoured vehicles continuing to keep the city in lockdown.

The mayor of one of Brussels’ municipalities said the area was still facing a grave threat, adding that suspects linked to the Paris terror attack that killed more than 130 last week remain on the run.

Schaerbeek’s mayor, Bernard Clerfayt, said on Sunday: “There are two terrorists in the Brussels region that could commit very dangerous acts.” The Belgian interior minister, Jan Jambon, added “several suspects” tied to the Paris attacks could be at large in the country.

Belgium’s national crisis centre on Saturday raised the threat alert in the Brussels region to level four, which indicates a “serious and immediate threat”. Clerfayt said it was necessary to try to anticipate and prevent any such acts and their consequences. He said: “As long as this threat is present, we must be very attentive.”

Officials said several men were being sought by security authorities amid speculation that a series of cells may be planning attacks in the heart of the EU.



Paris attacks: seven of eight prisoners from St-Denis siege are released – report Read more

The city’s metro system remained closed on Sunday. Officials were due to meet at noon to decide whether to relax the stringent measures, which have seen public transport restricted, shops shut, shopping malls shuttered, professional football cancelled, concerts called off and music venues, museums, and galleries closed.

A series of scares over suspect packages also raised tensions.

Belgian authorities are searching for Salah Abdeslam, identified as a key organiser of the gun and bomb attacks that killed 130 people in Paris nine days ago. Belgian media have reported sightings of Abdeslam, a 26-year-old Frenchman, in or around Brussels.

However Jambon told reporters that a number of suspects were sought, not just Abdeslam. “There are several suspects, that’s why we have put in place such a concentration of resources. We are following the situation minute by minute. There’s is no point in hiding that there is a real threat, but we are doing everything we can, day and night, to counter this situation,” Jambon said.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Belgium’s interior minister, Jan Jambon. Photograph: Virginia Mayo/AP

On Friday the Belgian security and counter-terror services warned the government, on the basis of undisclosed evidence, that a major attack was being planned in Brussels.

“Following a new assessment, the terror alert level has been raised to level four, very serious, for the Brussels region,” said a government statement. “Analysis shows a serious and imminent threat that requires taking specific security measures as well as specific recommendations for the public.”

The rest of the country was put on a level three alert, one level short of the maximum. People were told to avoid rail stations and airports, shopping centres, concerts, and other public events where people congregate.

Belgian officials have rejected widespread criticism of its intelligence services and counter-terror efforts. The news that a Belgian man suspected of undertaking reconnaissance of targets for the Paris attacks has been held by Turkish police have underlined the role the country has played as a base for those behind the plot, however.

Speaking to Belgian TV on Saturday night, Carine Coquelet, the lawyer of one of the two men detained in Brussels last week, said her client admitted picking up Abdeslam in Paris shortly after the terrorist strike there and driving him back to Brussels. She said that Abdelsalam may have been wearing a belt of explosives under a coat.

Belgium reportedly supplies the most foreign fighters to Syria compared to other EU countries in per capita terms. Many have come from Molenbeek, a run-down Brussels borough with a large Muslim community that has long been a concern.

Jambon, a Flemish nationalist, said that of 130 foreign fighters who were known to have come home from Syria, 85 were living in Molenbeek, which lies just west of the city centre. He demanded that the local authorities conduct a “door-by-door” vetting of who was living in every house and flat in the borough.

The mayors of Brussels’ 19 boroughs met at least twice and recommended a thorough lockdown of the city, not all of which was observed. A city centre mayor announced that a popular local market had been cancelled. In fact, it was operating as normal.

The Sunday morning market at the Gare du Midi, the Eurostar terminal – one of the biggest outdoor markets in Europe – was called off. Busy trains from Paris were subject to extra security measures.

It appeared many of the cancellations and closures were meant to relieve pressure on the security forces, who would be stretched too thin if mobilised to cover public events. Armed police as well as army personnel patrolled the central streets on foot, while armoured vehicles were a common sight.

The US embassy in Brussels advised Americans to cancel their weekend plans. “Shelter in place and remain at home. If you must go out, avoid large crowds. US citizens are urged to avoid public places such as major pedestrian walkways and shopping centres. If you were planning to attend an event, we strongly urge you to reconsider. Exercise caution in public transportation systems, sporting events, residential areas, business offices, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas, shopping malls and other tourist destinations.”

The Foreign Office delivered similar advice for the high numbers of Britons in Brussels, which is also home to the Nato headquarters.