Over a month after two Swedish citizens were killed during a terror attack in Brussels, Belgium will maintain terrorist threat level 3 for now, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Belgium's Coordination Body for Threat Assessment (OCAD) decided that threat level 3, which has been in place since the shooting on 16 October, will remain in force for the time being.
"We remain wary of copycats," said Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. The ongoing investigation also poses a risk. Level 3 is categorised as "serious" and means that the threat is "possible and probable." After the attack, the OCAD raised the level from 2 to 3 for the first time in over five years.
Only threat level 4, which is categorised as "very serious" and indicates that a terrorist threat is "serious and very imminent" is higher. That level was declared in Brussels on the evening of 16 October when the shooter was still on the run.
However, the increased level is not only the result of the recent terrorist attack but also has to do with the situation in the Middle East, as the authorities believe that what is happening in Israel and Gaza could be an "emotional trigger" for more attacks in Belgium.
"The OCAD sees a strong increase in the number of threat reports, in particular against the Jewish community," said Federal Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt. He added that State Security also remains vigilant for right-wing extremism, in particular following the arrests following house searches in far-right circles a few weeks ago.
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"Level 3 means that increased vigilance is asked of everyone. I ask police forces to be even more visible on the ground," Verlinden said. She paid special attention to the Christmas markets which will be set up in several Belgian cities over the coming weeks.
Not all Christmas markets automatically fall under threat level 3, the OCAD will determine the exact level for each activity, Verlinden explained. Local governments can request that analysis themselves.
"How long level 3 will remain in force is difficult to predict," Verlinden said. At the end of October, the head of OCAD Gert Vercauteren made it clear that this level of alertness would be maintained for "some time to come."
