Tag Archives: belgium

Belgian authorities investigating Syrian jihadist recruitment networks raided 48 homes, mainly in Antwerp and Vilvorde, and arrested six people, including Fouad Belkacem, the spokesman for the Islamist group Sharia4Belgium. Prosecutors said that 33 people linked to the group were either already in Syria or on their way to fight.

Belgian police shot and killed wanted Franco-Algerian terrorist Benladghem Hakim as he was resisting arrest for an armed robbery committed on March 21. Police found a “veritable military arsenal” in his home, arrested a woman, and are looking for his brother. French authorities believe Hakim belonged to a criminal group with terrorist aims.

Police clashed in Antwerp with Sharia4Belgium activists who chanted against US President Obama and Hollywood. About 120 protesters were detained, but were expected to be released following identity checks.

Security forces arrested Algerian national Abdelkader Ayachine, who headed an al Qaeda-linked cell in Burgos, Spain. Ayachine had fled to Belgium in 2011 after he was arrested in Spain along with five other cell members.

An axe-carrying 34-year-old Muslim man attacked a mosque in Brussels, setting it on fire. The mosque’s imam died of smoke inhalation while trying to extinguish the flames. The attacker shouted about Syria and was said to be a Salafist. A police guard had been given to the mosque in the past due to Salafist threats.

Norodine Amrani, 33, killed four people and injured 123 in an attack on a Christmas market in Liege. Amrani threw grenades and shot randomly into the crowd; he died in the attack. Authorities say he acted alone and that the attack did not involve terrorism.

The trial of nine Muslims accused of supporting terror activities has begun. Among those charged is Malika El Aroud, a 50-year-old Belgian woman accused of running a website that encouraged Muslims to become suicide bombers. Her husband, Abdessatar Dahmane, carried out the suicide attack that killed anti-Taliban leader Ahmad Shah Massoud just two days before […]