Terror Alert Raised to Highest Level in Brussels in Wake of Paris Attacks

Handout picture shows Belgian-born Abdeslam Salah seen on a call for witnesses notice released by the French Police Nationale information services on their twitter account November 15, 2015 - Sputnik International

Paris Bloodbath Suspect Salah Abdeslam Sighted in Brussels

20 November 2015, 09:30 GMT

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Belgium’s OCAM (Organe de Coordination pour l'Analyse de la Menace) crisis center has raised the terror alert level in Brussels to level 4, the highest possible, in the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks.

"Following a new assessment of the OCAM performed this Friday, 20/11, in the evening, the terror alert level rose to level 4…for the Brussels Region. Level 3 [alert] continues to apply to the rest of the country," the crisis center said in a statement, warning of a "serious and imminent threat."

OCAM recommended that Brussels residents avoid crowded public places, such as train stations and airports, refrain from using public transport and do not attend concerts and other mass events.

© AP Photo / Geert Vanden WijngaertBelgian Army soldiers patrol in the picturesque Grand Place in the center of Brussels on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Salah Abdeslam, a French national who lived in Molenbeek, Belgium, is currently the subject of an international manhunt after the Paris attacks. Security has been stepped up in parts of Belgium as a precaution. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Belgian Army soldiers patrol in the picturesque Grand Place in the center of Brussels on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. - Sputnik International

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Belgian Army soldiers patrol in the picturesque Grand Place in the center of Brussels on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Salah Abdeslam, a French national who lived in Molenbeek, Belgium, is currently the subject of an international manhunt after the Paris attacks. Security has been stepped up in parts of Belgium as a precaution. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

© AFP 2023 / LUC CLAESSENA man checks his mobile phone while walking by Belgian army trucks stationed in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Central railway station in Antwerp, on November 20, 2015. With Belgium under pressure after France said the attacks were plotted there, the raft of new measures also included putting ankle bracelets on radicals, launching possible night raids and extending detention periods for terror suspects. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / LUC CLAESSEN

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A man checks his mobile phone while walking by Belgian army trucks stationed in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Central railway station in Antwerp, on November 20, 2015. With Belgium under pressure after France said the attacks were plotted there, the raft of new measures also included putting ankle bracelets on radicals, launching possible night raids and extending detention periods for terror suspects. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / LUC CLAESSEN

© AFP 2023 / LUC CLAESSENArmy trucks stand in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Centraal railway station in Antwerp, Belgium on November 20, 2015. Belgium's national security council and the government decided to deploy more police and soldiers in the streets after the November 13 attacks in Paris, which left 129 dead and more than 350 injured. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / LUC CLAESSEN

Army trucks stand in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Centraal railway station in Antwerp, Belgium on November 20, 2015. - Sputnik International

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Army trucks stand in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Centraal railway station in Antwerp, Belgium on November 20, 2015. Belgium's national security council and the government decided to deploy more police and soldiers in the streets after the November 13 attacks in Paris, which left 129 dead and more than 350 injured. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / LUC CLAESSEN

© AFP 2023 / BRUNO FAHYSecurity guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

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Security guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

© AFP 2023 / BRUNO FAHYSecurity guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

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Security guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

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Belgian Army soldiers patrol in the picturesque Grand Place in the center of Brussels on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Salah Abdeslam, a French national who lived in Molenbeek, Belgium, is currently the subject of an international manhunt after the Paris attacks. Security has been stepped up in parts of Belgium as a precaution. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

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A man checks his mobile phone while walking by Belgian army trucks stationed in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Central railway station in Antwerp, on November 20, 2015. With Belgium under pressure after France said the attacks were plotted there, the raft of new measures also included putting ankle bracelets on radicals, launching possible night raids and extending detention periods for terror suspects. AFP PHOTO / BELGA PHOTO / LUC CLAESSEN

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Army trucks stand in the Jewish neighborhood close to the Antwerp Centraal railway station in Antwerp, Belgium on November 20, 2015. Belgium's national security council and the government decided to deploy more police and soldiers in the streets after the November 13 attacks in Paris, which left 129 dead and more than 350 injured. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / LUC CLAESSEN

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Security guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

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Security guards search fans as they enter the stadium before the Jupiler Pro League match between KAA Gent and Westerlo, in Gent, on November 20, 2015, as part of security measures set following Paris' attacks. AFP PHOTO / BELGA / BRUNO FAHY

On Friday, Belgium charged an unidentified man with terrorism offenses in connection with the November 13 Paris attacks.

According to Belgian prosecutors, nine people were detained on Thursday in connection with the terrorist acts in the French capital, which took the lives of at least 129 people, injuring 350 others.

The attacks were staged in several locations across Paris, including the Stade de France stadium and the Bataclan concert hall.

Following the tragedy, Belgian police carried out a series of anti-terrorist operations detaining a number of people in Brussels, suspected of links to the Paris attacks.

Brussels 4am Saturday Convoy including bus load of troops. Threat level 4. pic.twitter.com/cGEdvDtMq7
— Drew Griffin CNN (@DrewGriffinCNN) November 21, 2015

Belgium's terror alert level was raised from level 2 to level 3 on Monday.

The alleged ringleader of the Paris attacks, Belgium-based Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a police raid in Paris on Wednesday.