Belgium increases terror threat level to 3 for whole country

Belgium has increased its terror threat level from 2 to 3, the highest level, for the whole country and canceled a football match against Spain scheduled for Tuesday evening, the Belgian interior ministry's crisis center announced on Tuesday.

The Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAM) had already increased the threat level to 3 for large-scale public gatherings such as sports fixtures and concerts. That level has now been extended across the country to all sectors, Le Soir newspaper reported.

There will be a reinforced police presence in parts of the country with a high population density and at big events, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The ministry's crisis center added: "In this context, we recommend the cancellation of a football match planned on Tuesday evening between Belgium and Spain."

Other big events may still go ahead, but organizers must make prior contact with the interior ministry to assess the risk, the statement added.

Belgium were due to play Spain at the King Baudouin stadium to the north of Brussels, with an estimated 50,000 crowd. Some 600 police officers and army officers had been called in to patrol the event, Le Soir newspaper said.

The Belgian football union said in a statement: "We are very disappointed that a friendly match has been cancelled at such short notice and we understand supporters' disappointment. However, we cannot take any risks when it comes to the safety of our players or supporters." Enditem