Belgian justice minister says jihadist chief still at large

The man believed to be behind the terrorist cell raided by the Belgian police on Thursday is still at large, the Belgian justice minister has confirmed.

Speaking on the Flemish broadcaster VRT on Sunday, Justice Minister Koen Geens, said that the police were still engaged in a search for the man believed to be the mastermind behind the terrorist cell that was dismantled by the police in raids in several locations across the country on Thursday.

A total of 13 arrests were made following a dozen raids carried out in Verviers, Berchem, Liedekerke and several locations in Brussels.

Weapons and money were also recovered from the Verviers raid, in which two men died during a shoot-out with the police.

As a result of the terrorist threat to the country, Belgium increased its security threat level from 3 on a scale of 4. Army personnel have also been drafted-in to help protect certain vulnerable locations. Enditem