Three charged following counter-terror raids in Belgium

Belgian authorities have charged three men with terrorism offices, following a large overnight investigation, the federal prosecutor’s office has confirmed. Searches were conducted overnight in 16 towns,many around the capital, with checks being carried out on 152 lock-up garages. The three men arrested include: Samir C, aged 27; Moustapha B, 40; and Jawad B, 29. The criminals have been charged with attempting to commit murder through terrorism and participating in a terrorist group. The news comes as Belgium media had earlier reported that intelligence had suggested that militant islamists had been planning to attack the football fanzone in Brussels, where Belgium’s games in the Euro 2016 tournament in France are screened. Belgian officials claimed that the operation had been launched after investigations which ‘necessitated an immediate intervention’. The country is now under a level three terror alert, one below maximum.