Islamic State millitants threaten attacks on Belgium: media

The militant group Islamic State (IS) have threatened to hit Belgium and France with a series of violent actions in a new video, local media reported on Wednesday.

The video, released by Belgian media, shows three IS militants with a captured Kurdish soldier. One of the men threatens attacks on France, and "its sister" Belgium.

"We warn you that we will come to your country with car bombs and explosives, and that we will cut off your heads," ran the message.

The threats come after the headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were attacked in Paris earlier this month.

In the wake of those attacks, the Belgian police destroyed a suspected jihadist cell intent on carrying-out acts of terrorism in the country.

Arrests were also made in Germany, France and Greece.

"It goes without saying that we follow these things closely," the Belgian prosecutor's office said in reaction to the video, according to a report in De Standaard.

The Co-ordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAD) said it would not raise the country's security level any further in response to the latest threat.

Following the police break-up of the jihadist cell earlier in the month, Belgium's threat level was raised from 2 to 3 on a scale of 4 following advice from the OCAD.

Since then, armed soldiers have been visible on the streets of Brussels, Antwerp and elsewhere protecting certain sensitive sites. Enditem