'Terrible': Rally 'Against Fear' in Brussels Cancelled Over Attack Concerns

Almost a week after the Brussels bombings, concerns over new attacks in the city remains strong among citizens and authorities called for the cancelation of the march ‘Against Fear' on Sunday, Politico’s correspondent Ryan Heath told Radio Sputnik.

As life in the Belgian capital slowly returns to normal, Heath reported that the situation doesn’t appear as dramatic as it did in November in France, when Paris was in full terror lockdown following the attacks. He said that now “focus is more on the intelligence operation that is trying to track down elements of this terrorist cell rather than putting men with guns on the streets."

Belgians are reacting to the situation much calmer than in some other Western nations who experienced terrorist assaults, the correspondent noted, saying that there weren’t any demands for resignation of government officials and ministers following the bombings.

“They are trying to be as united as possible,” Heath said. “They say the biggest goal is to not to be divided, not turn off different parts of community, but to try to stay together as one community.”

Heath emphasized that locals assumed Brussels “would be a likely target for an attack” prior to the bombings, and they believe the city could be attacked again in the future. The authorities prompted the organizers of the march "Against Fear" scheduled on Sunday to forgo holding the event. It was later cancelled due to a lack of policemen to provide security.

“I think they didn’t really want to have the risk of responsibility for more deaths or injuries if something happens. So obviously it does look a bit terrible if you are trying to march against fear, but are too afraid to hold that march.”

Still, risks that new attacks could hit the city are in place, Heath asserted. And it would take a long time for ordinary Belgians and government to address the problems to resolve key problems linked to terrorism, he concluded.