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Number of arrests made in Belgium rises to 7 over Paris attacks: prosecutor

Xinhua, November 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

The number of arrests made in Belgium in connection with the Paris terror attacks has risen to seven, Belgium's federal prosecutor said on Sunday.

Belgian broadcaster RTL said French investigators are currently in Brussels working with their Belgian counterparts, and no charges have yet been brought.

RTL added that identification of the bodies of the assailants had confirmed that two French nationals, living in the Brussels commune of Molenbeek, were among the attackers during Friday's massacre.

In an interview for RTL on Sunday, prime minister Charles Michel described the Paris attacks as "acts of war."

"European security services have been fearing this type of attack for months," he said.

Michel added that there has been a "form of a laxity, a laisser-faire" approach in the past, for which "we are now paying the price."

"For several years, Belgium has been warning of the phenomenon of fighters leaving for Syria and coming back to Europe to commit attacks. Lots of people suspected of links to radical groups are under surveillance," he told RTL.

A minute's silence will be held across Europe at 12.00 local time on Monday to remember the 129 killed in the Paris attacks. Enditem