7 arrested in Belgium on suspicion of planning terror attack

Authorities have detained seven people, most of them of Chechen origin, on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in Belgium, the federal prosecutor’s office says.

The office says in a statement that the suspects had not yet selected a precise target but police decided to pick them up for questioning anyway.

“All of them are suspected of preparing a terrorist attack in Belgium,” the statement said. “The examining magistrate will decide at a later stage whether to bring them before him and possibly issue an arrest warrant.”

Three of the suspects are Belgian nationals, according to federal prosecutors. The office’s statement says all seven allegedly belonged to a group of “strong supporters” of the Islamic State extremist group.

“Possible charges are attempted terrorist assassination, participation in the activities of a terrorist group and preparation of a terrorist attack,” according to the statement.