An announcement from the Belgian federal prosecutor's office on Tuesday revealed that the raids had been carried out at the behest of a federal judge in Liege who specializes in matters of terrorism.

The 10 men taken into custody were believed to have recruitment ties to 'Islamic State' (IS) in Syria. The prosecutor's office said the current investigation indicated that several people had left for Syria to join IS.

The raids took place in the Brussels neighborhoods of Molenbeek, Koekelberg, Schaerbeek and Etterbeek. Computer equipment and mobile phones were seized in the raids, and a judge will determine later on Tuesday if charges should be brought against any of the suspects.

Although recent terror-related arrests in Brussels have had ties to the Paris attacks of November, 2015, Tuesday's arrests are not believed to be linked.

mz/rc (Reuters, AP)