1st LD Writethru: Belgian justice minister says radical 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 to 3 on a scale of 4. Army personnel have also been drafted in to help protect certain vulnerable locations.

In addition there were also arrests in Germany and Greece.

Speaking on Sunday, Geens did not rule out the possibility that there could be a link between events in Belgium and the arrest of four men Greece.

When asked if the ring leader of the Belgian cell was still at large, Geens said "This is indeed the case."

"The arrests that took place last night did not get hold of the right person. We continue to actively look and I guess it will succeed," said the minister.

Meanwhile, two more searches took place in Brussels as part of the ongoing investigation into terrorist activities.

According to a spokesperson of the Federal prosecutor, no arrests were made. The raids took place in "the Brussels Capital Region" according to the spokesperson, but no further details were given. Endit