Belgium arrests al-Qaeda suspects

[philippe]

Fourteen suspected al-Qaeda members, including a man believed to have been planning a suicide attack, have been arrested by Belgian police as European Union leaders gathered in Brussels for a key economic summit.

"We don't know where the suicide attack was to take place," Johan Delmulle, a federal prosecutor, said on Thursday.

"It could have been an operation in Pakistan or Afghanistan, but it can't be ruled out that Belgium or Europe could have been the target."

Delmulle said one suspect had "received the green light to carry out an operation from which he was not expected to come back" and "had said goodbye to his loved ones, because he wanted to enter paradise with a clear conscience".

"This information, linked to the fact that a European summit is getting under way at this moment in Brussels, left us no choice but to take action today," the prosecutor said.

Delmulle said the raids were linked to a similar pre-Christmas sweep last year.

About 250 police officers carried out raids 16 raids across Brussels and one in the eastern city of Liege on Thursday, confiscating computers, data storage equipment and a gun.

The federal prosecutor's office described the raids as "the most important" anti-terrorism operation in Belgium, and said it was linked to a Belgian Islamist group involved in training as well as fighting on the Pakistan-Afghan border, in liaison with "important figures" in al-Qaeda.

In a statement, the country's justice and interior ministers said: "It is now clear to all that we were dealing with a real risk. It is more than likely that an attack in Brussels has been prevented".

winning one battle vs terrorists at a time, without bombing them.

 

[theskald]

Belgium? Well I am just super impressed, guys!

Wow! Belgium!

 

[silver 2039]

The federal prosecutor's office described the raids as "the most important" anti-terrorism operation in Belgium, and said it was linked to a Belgian Islamist group involved in training as well as fighting on the Pakistan-Afghan border, in liaison with "important figures" in al-Qaeda.

Pakistan. It always Pakistan.

 

[BSmith1068]

Pakistan. It always Pakistan.

Well.. seeing how al Qaeda is mainly in Pakistan these days, it would be rather surprising if there were no links to Pakistan.

 

[MobBoss]

My first question is why would AlQaeda attack Belgium in the first place?

 

[philippe]

becuase Brussels is the capital of europe, hence the world and we all know terrorists hate the world.

 

[MobBoss]

becuase Brussels is the capital of europe, hence the world and we all know terrorists hate the world.

Darn...and here I was expecting a serious answer....

 

[philippe]

This information, linked to the fact that a European summit is getting under way at this moment in Brussels, left us no choice but to take action today," the prosecutor said.

serious nswer is in article. or were you tl;dr?

 

[MobBoss]

serious nswer is in article. or were you tl;dr?

Sometimes the obvious answer isnt necessarily the correct answer. Its entirely possible that these folks simply got rounded up due to increased security of the summit - not necessarily because they were planning an operation during (or against) the summit. Not exactly a whole lot of information in your article. In fact, the article goes on to say they are not even sure the target was to be in Belgium. Or did you miss that?

Let me quote it for you:

It could have been an operation in Pakistan or Afghanistan, but it can't be ruled out that Belgium or Europe could have been the target."

Lots of 'could' in that sentence.

Remember: Coorelation =/= causation.

 

[Synobun]

Belgium only did something about it because they were near a chocolate factory

 

[holy king]

were they planning to split the atomium?

 

[philippe]

Sometimes the obvious answer isnt necessarily the correct answer. Its entirely possible that these folks simply got rounded up due to increased security of the summit - not necessarily because they were planning an operation during (or against) the summit. Not exactly a whole lot of information in your article. In fact, the article goes on to say they are not even sure the target was to be in Belgium. Or did you miss that?

Let me quote it for you:



Lots of 'could' in that sentence.

Remember: Coorelation =/= causation.

still pressing enough to go ahead with he raids.

oh and the HQ of NATO is in Belgium, Belgian military has stepped up in Afghanistan (without approval of congress) and a video has been posted by "al quida sympathisers" that attacks are imminent if we do not withdraw from aghanistan. European parliament is here, lots of americans, dozens of reasons. Can't help it you are pretending to be not informed to try and be condescending on Belgium.

 

[MobBoss]

still pressing enough to go ahead with he raids.

oh and the HQ of NATO is in Belgium, Belgian military has stepped up in Afghanistan (without approval of congress) and a video has been posted by "al quida sympathisers" that attacks are imminent if we do not withdraw from aghanistan. European parliament is here, lots of americans, dozens of reasons. Can't help it you are pretending to be not informed to try and be condescending on Belgium.

What condescension? I asked a simple question. Although all the things you list have been a fact for some time, Belgium isnt exactly known as being a terrorist target now is it?

So why now all of a sudden? Very simple question. If you dont have an answer thats ok too. Cant expect you to know everything about Belgium.

 

[RedRalph]

My first question is why would AlQaeda attack Belgium in the first place?

NATO and EU HQs? Seems like a pretty obvious target to me

 

[Labtec600]

winning one battle vs terrorists at a time, without bombing them.

Would your military bomb your own country? Interesting.

 

[MobBoss]

NATO and EU HQs? Seems like a pretty obvious target to me

They have been there awhile. If they are such obvious targets, then why havent they been targeted prior to this?

 

[RedRalph]

They have been there awhile. If they are such obvious targets, then why havent they been targeted prior to this?

I dont know. The White House has been where it is now for a long time. as has Big Ben, The Eiffel Tower and Rammstein military base. AFAIK there have been no recent attempts on any of them but they are pretty damn obvious terrorist targets, arent they? If having been oreviously targets was the only criteria for being a likely terrorist attack then intel agencies would have a very easy job, wouldnt they>