Belgian TV reports three dead in anti-terrorism raid

[inanna]

Source: Reuters

BRUSSELS Thu Jan 15, 2015 12:33pm EST

(Reuters) - Belgian public television channel RTBF said on its website that it had reports of three people being killed during a police counter-terrorism raid in Verviers in the east of the country.

The Belga news agency quoted federal prosecutors saying there had been a police operation near the center of the town but did not confirm there had been casualties. Belga said there were several casualties and said police activity was continuing.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/15/us-belgium-security-report-idUSKBN0KO25Z20150115

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More from The Daily Beast:

DEVELOPING
17 minutes ago

Belgian public television says three people have been killed in a counter-terrorism raid in Verviers on Thursday. Yesterday, a Belgian arms dealer turned himself in after saying he gave the Charlie Hebdo attackers weapons in Brussels last year. It's unknown if he's connected to the operation or what link, if any, it has to the attack in France. RTBF-TV says a press conference is scheduled at 8 p.m. local time, 2 p.m. EST.

Link: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/01/15/3-killed-in-terrorism-raid-in-belgium.html?via=twitter_page

[Bosonic]

1. Casualties in Belgium police anti-terror raid in Verviers

Casualties in Belgium police anti-terror raid in Verviers

Three people have reportedly been killed during a police counter-terrorism raid in Verviers in the east of the country.

Federal prosecutors told the Belga news agency there had been a police operation near the centre of the town but did not confirm there had been casualties. A number of people have been arrested.

"An operation is under way," a source in the mayor's office told AFP without giving further details, while another official said separately that it was "jihadist-related".

Belga said there were several casualties and said police activity was continuing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/belgium/11349110/Casualties-in-Belgium-police-anti-terror-raid-in-Verviers.html

[jtuck004]

2. There it is again, " police counter-terrorism raid". The police are the closest, and better able to

investigate and perhaps handle counter-terrorism duties than the military (just my opinion).

So the relationship with the community is, in many cases, broken, at a time when it really needs to be working, in places all across this country.

Our opponents must love that.

[jwirr]

6. Yes, I have been saying since that terrorism should be handled as criminal matter and not a

military matter but bush had to have it his way and here we are still fighting his war.

[EX500rider]

9. Is is treated as a criminal/police matter in country...

.....but you'll find few police willing or able to serve a warrant or do a arrest in Somalia, Afghanistan and Yemen.

[jwirr]

11. I think there are some international police agencies that have done so before 9/11. I believe that

the police can do this in a cleaner way. Have you seen how few innocent bystanders got killed this week in France. Also they police did not destroy the entire economy and infrastructure.

[EX500rider]

12. What police agency can raid a Taliban or AlQueda base?

None?

Yes, in western countries the police can and do handle it.....but in failed states with terrorists bases not so much.

[inanna]

3. BBC now reporting

two dead, one injured and that police activity is ongoing.

Witnesses state there was heavy gunfire and explosions.

Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30840160

[inanna]

4. Reuters Update:

Last updated Thursday, Jan. 15 2015, 1:23 PM EST

<snip>

The prosecutor’s emergency news conference comes the week after attacks in neighbouring France that killed 20 people, including three gunmen who attacked satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, a kosher market and police.

Earlier, Belgian authorities detained a man for arms dealing and are investigating whether he supplied one of the Islamist gunmen who together killed 17 people in Paris last week, prosecutors said Thursday.

Belgian media reported that a man had handed himself in to police in the southern city of Charleroi on Tuesday, saying he had been in touch with Amedy Coulibaly, the militant who took hostages in a Jewish supermarket in the French capital and was later killed by security forces.

<snip>

“The man is being held by the judge in Charleroi on suspicion of arms dealing,” a spokesman for Belgium’s federal prosecution said. “Further investigations will have to show whether there is a link with the events in Paris,” he added.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/three-dead-in-belgian-anti-terrorism-raid-reports/article22460865/?cmpid=rss1

[Renew Deal]

5. I guess they contacted his other customers.

[Rhinodawg]

7. I knew this was going to happen.

and its not over yet.

[Bosonic]

8. Belgium group was about to launch attack, two suspects dead: prosecutor

Belgium group was about to launch attack, two suspects dead: prosecutor

Brussels (AFP) - Police on Thursday shot dead two suspects in eastern Belgium as they were about to launch "large-scale" attacks in the country after returning from Syria, prosecutors said.

They said a third suspect was arrested in the eastern town of Verviers and that the police had carried about 10 raids in all, including in the capital Brussels, after surveillance suggested an attack was imminent.

http://news.yahoo.com/deaths-reported-police-anti-terror-raid-belgium-174948757.html;_ylt=AwrBEiKCHLhUvHoAU2bQtDMD

[Rhinodawg]

10. France

Germany
Netherlands
Switzerland
Sweden
Brussels
Norway
Canada
Australia
Spain
UK
Italy
US
and now Belgium

[Rhinodawg]

13. MSNBC: Supposedly these people were "JIHADISTS" from Syria.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

14. CNN reporting multiple ongoing raids all across Belgium

On Erin Burnett they're saying an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Belgium was imminent before the raids. Not sure how reliable Burnett and her guests are.

Also, someone on her show said that a giant criminal trial of dozens of suspected jihadists was winding up in the Belgian criminal courts and a verdict was imminent, therefore triggering a big retaliation over the anticipated verdict.

[inanna]

15. IF any of it is true....

then holy shit....

Multiple raids. I will try to look for a link.

Thanks.

And to Bosonic: thanks for your help in updating thread. I had to leave for work.