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Belgium identifies 828 radical suspects: leaked report

Xinhua, September 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

Belgian authorities have drawn up a surveillance list with the names of 828 people believed to be radical Islamists engaged in jihadist activities, according to a ministerial notice leaked to local media on Tuesday.

Belgian broadcaster RTL reported that the country's intelligence service has identified 270 Belgian residents currently fighting in Syria and Iraq, another 15 en route there, 129 who have returned and 62 who were prevented from leaving Belgium.

The leaked circular from Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens and Interior Minister Jan Jambon also suggests that there are 352 Belgian residents who have the intention of travelling to a conflict zone.

RTL said the ministerial directive was sent out to local authorities, urging them to gather any information they can about the named individuals, referred to as "foreign terrorist fighters".

The mayor of one Brussels suburb told the broadcaster that he was concerned that local community workers were being asked to become "informers" for the intelligence services.

According to La Libre Belgique newspaper, on a per-capita basis, Belgium has for the past three years been the European country with the highest proportion of residents fighting in Syria and Iraq. Endit