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Brussels Cancels Traditional New Year's Eve Fireworks Due to Terror Threat
Sunday, December 30, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Traditional New Year's Eve fireworks in central
Brussels have been canceled due to a continuing terror threat in the Belgian
capital, officials said Sunday.
The popular downtown Christmas market will close early, at 6 p.m., on Dec.
31 rather than staying open all night, and the adjacent skating rink will
shut at 8 p.m.
Authorities warned of an increased risk of attack after police last week
detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused Al Qaeda
militant break out of jail.
The inmate, Nizar Trabelsi, 37, is a Tunisian ex-professional soccer player
who is serving 10 years for plotting to drive a car bomb into the cafeteria
of a Belgian air force base housing about 100 U.S. military personnel.
However, in a letter published by the daily newspaper La Derniere Heure,
Trabelsi denied that his supporters were plotting his jailbreak or any
terror attack.
A judge ordered his supporters' release for lack of evidence, and all
suspects have maintained their innocence.
Authorities said the city would maintain heightened security measures until
at least Jan. 3.
"We've reviewed the situation and the conclusion is that there is no reason
to scale back the current level of (terror) alert," said Jaak Raes, director
general of the government's Crisis Center. "The aim is not to create panic
.... but to avoid unnecessary risks."
The government said last week it had information that the suspects were
plotting to use explosives and other weapons to free Trabelsi, who was
arrested in Brussels in 2001, two days after the Sept. 11 attacks, and
convicted two years later.
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt warned that the suspects also could have
other targets in mind, and ordered police to step up security at the
airport, in subway stations and at the Christmas market.
During his trial, Trabelsi admitted plotting to kill U.S. soldiers based in
northeastern Belgium, saying he had met Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden in
Afghanistan and asked to become a suicide bomber.
Trabelsi came to Europe to play professional soccer in 1989. Over the next
few years, he bounced from team to team in the minor leagues, acquiring a
cocaine habit and a criminal record.
Eventually, he made his way to Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, where
evidence presented at his trial showed he placed himself on a "list of
martyrs" ready to commit suicide attacks.
Brussels Cancels Traditional New Year's Eve Fireworks Due to Terror Threat
Sunday, December 30, 2007
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Traditional New Year's Eve fireworks in central
Brussels have been canceled due to a continuing terror threat in the Belgian
capital, officials said Sunday.
The popular downtown Christmas market will close early, at 6 p.m., on Dec.
31 rather than staying open all night, and the adjacent skating rink will
shut at 8 p.m.
Authorities warned of an increased risk of attack after police last week
detained 14 people suspected of plotting to help an accused Al Qaeda
militant break out of jail.
The inmate, Nizar Trabelsi, 37, is a Tunisian ex-professional soccer player
who is serving 10 years for plotting to drive a car bomb into the cafeteria
of a Belgian air force base housing about 100 U.S. military personnel.
However, in a letter published by the daily newspaper La Derniere Heure,
Trabelsi denied that his supporters were plotting his jailbreak or any
terror attack.
A judge ordered his supporters' release for lack of evidence, and all
suspects have maintained their innocence.
Authorities said the city would maintain heightened security measures until
at least Jan. 3.
"We've reviewed the situation and the conclusion is that there is no reason
to scale back the current level of (terror) alert," said Jaak Raes, director
general of the government's Crisis Center. "The aim is not to create panic
.... but to avoid unnecessary risks."
The government said last week it had information that the suspects were
plotting to use explosives and other weapons to free Trabelsi, who was
arrested in Brussels in 2001, two days after the Sept. 11 attacks, and
convicted two years later.
Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt warned that the suspects also could have
other targets in mind, and ordered police to step up security at the
airport, in subway stations and at the Christmas market.
During his trial, Trabelsi admitted plotting to kill U.S. soldiers based in
northeastern Belgium, saying he had met Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden in
Afghanistan and asked to become a suicide bomber.
Trabelsi came to Europe to play professional soccer in 1989. Over the next
few years, he bounced from team to team in the minor leagues, acquiring a
cocaine habit and a criminal record.
Eventually, he made his way to Al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan, where
evidence presented at his trial showed he placed himself on a "list of
martyrs" ready to commit suicide attacks.
