Belgium anti-terror police have arrested 12 people suspected of planning imminent attacks during the country’s Euro 2016 game with Ireland.
Raids were carried out on 40 homes across Belgium on Friday and Saturday over fears of a major attack they believed was planned to coincide with the Red Devils’ game.
Police say intelligence led them to carry out an immediate intervention to stop a suspected plot on the Belgian capital as thousands of fans watched the game.
A dozen people were arrested following the raids ahead of the Group E fixture which is due to be kick off at 2pm in Bordeaux.
“The suspects were planning to carry out attacks while the Red Devils were playing a match at the European Championships this weekend, said Flemish public broadcaster VTM’s Farouk Özgünes.
“Perhaps they were planning to commit another attack today in Brussels,” he added.
Forty people were questioned in relation to this suspected plot and dozens of homes and garages were searched, including in the notorious area of Molenbeek which was at the centre of investigations into the March atrocities which killed 32 people.
Belgium prosecutors released a statement, according to the Mirror, which read: “In connection with a criminal investigation concerning terrorism…40 persons were taken for questioning.
“Twelve among them were arrested. The investigating judge will decide on their possible detention later today.
“Evidence was gathered [and] as part of the instruction [we] needed to intervene immediately.”
It comes after Belgium security officials were put on alert last week that a group of Islamic State fighters had reportedly left Syria heading for Belgium and France.
