Top Channel followed today the Anti-Terror Unit operation from the
Belgian Federal Police at the Molenbeek neighborhood, a few kilometers
from EU institutions.
Residents were forced away of their homes for more than four hours, after police were tipped for the presence of Abdeslam Salah, a suspect of the Paris terror attacks. Shots were fired and people were taken in custody, but the King’s Prosecutor said there were no arrests and the police is operating to catch the Public Enemy no.1.
Molenbeek, very close to Brussels’ downtown, is known for a huge presence of Arab residents. Albanians are seen rarely here and the neighborhood is often mentioned as the center of jihadists in Europe.
Almost all terrorist attacks of the past year were related to this neighborhood, including participation of individuals, vehicles, purchase of arms, planning, etc.
Three of the Paris attacks have allegedly lived in Molenbeek. The French Interior Minister said the attack was planned in Brussels with help from their collaborators in France.
The NATO and EU flags were held mid pole and one minute of silence was held in all international institutions of Brussels, honoring the victims of the Paris terror attacks.
After condemning them with force, the NATO General Secretary, Stoltenberg, said that NATO is more determined than ever to fight the terrorism threat.
Same as at the European Commission and European Parliament, the silence continued with the Foreign Ministers where they discussed the discussions on Syria after the meeting in Vienna. They also discussed about the refugees, as a continuity of the Malta summit, and on the peace process agenda for the Middle East.
“ISIS is a threat for everyone who is here today, same as in Friday, to joing our forces. This is not an attack against one country, against Europe. This is an attack against civilization. It requires unification of forces, sharing information and political agendas. We must increase all diplomatic, economic and military efforts to face this threat. The real guarantee for our security is preventing and destroying terror groups wherever they are”, said Federica Mogherini, high representative of the EU for Security and Foreign Policy.
The meeting was held in Brussels under increased security measures. The cooperation between the French and Belgian intelligence exchange has increased.
Prepared by: Arta Tozaj
Top Channel
