Belgium looks for 'several suspects' as lockdown continues

Paris attacks mastermind Salah Abdeslam still on the loose, but capturing him alone won’t end Islamist threat, says interior minister

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The Belgian capital was locked down for a second day Sunday with police and troops on the streets as the authorities said they were searching for “several suspects” linked to the bloody attacks in Paris.

Interior Minister Jan Jambon said the authorities were looking not just for Belgian-born Salah Abdeslam, who managed to slip past French security forces after the carnage in Paris, and his capture would not end the threat on its own.

“It involves several suspects and that is why we have put in place such exceptional measures,” the Belga news agency cited Jambon as telling Flemish television.

“We are following the situation minute by minute. There is no reason to hide that. There is a real threat but we are doing everything possible day and night to face up to this situation,” Jambon said.

The arrest warrant issued for 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam, suspected of involvement in the November 13, 2015. terror attacks in Paris. 'Do not intervene yourself,' warns the message issued November 15, 2015. — The arrest warrant issued for 26-year-old Salah Abdeslam, suspected of involvement in the November 13, 2015. terror attacks in Paris. ‘Do not intervene yourself,’ warns the message issued November 15, 2015.

Ministers and security officials were due to meet later Sunday to decide whether to extend the lockdown in Brussels, imposed amid fears jihadists were plotting similar attacks to those in Paris which left 130 people dead.

The authorities closed the city’s metro system and public buildings on Saturday, with shops and restaurants following suit after the terror threat was raised to 4 its highest level, and officials spoke of an “imminent threat.”

As a result, central Brussels, usually bustling on a Saturday evening, was virtually deserted, with police and troops on patrol.