Belgium Probes Reports Police Failed to Prevent Deadly Paris Terror Attacks

Brussels has launched a probe into media reports about police mistakes that failed to prevent Paris terror attacks last year, Brussels Deputy Public Prosecutor Ine Van Wymersch said Wednesday.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — On March 1, Belgian media reported citing anonymous sources that Belgian police had been alerted that Paris terror suspects were planning an attack in July 2014, but failed to process the information correctly to prevent the blasts.

"These articles mention, in particular, information that allegedly was obtained on the persons involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris with the use of special investigative techniques, such as the involvement of informants. The fact that it refers explicitly to the use of whistle-blowers is likely to constitute a serious danger to persons possibly involved and represents a clear violation of the confidentiality of investigations," Van Wymersch said, as quoted by the Belgian Le Soir newspaper.

The deputy prosecutor refused to confirm the credibility of these reports, which were based on the information received from a Belgian police officer.

On November 13, a series of terrorist attacks in Paris left at least 130 people dead. The Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in Russia and many other countries, claimed responsibility for the tragedy.

A number of terrorists allegedly responsible for the attacks traveled to Paris from Belgium, according to police. The key suspect in November’s Paris attacks, Belgian citizen Salah Abdeslam, remains at large.