Belgium to increase security budget after Paris attacks

The Belgian government has set aside 400 million euros (427 million U.S. dollars) for its 2016 budget to reinforce security following the Paris terror attacks, Prime Minister Charles Michel announced on Thursday.

Michel outlined 18 measures to the Belgian federal parliament in the wake of Paris attacks on November 13, which he said was "carried out by Franco-Belgian" terror cells.

"Let us get over our differences, join forces more than ever and unite behind the fundamental universal values of respect and tolerance," Le Soir newspaper quoted Michel as saying.

He reiterated that Belgium was co-operating closely with French authorities in the investigation, and said there would "probably be other attacks, other tragedies, but we will not give in to panic".

Among the 18 measures set out on Thursday, Le Soir reported, were an additional 400 million euros of spending in the 2016 budget for security, reinforced border checks and 520 army officers to patrol public spaces.

According to the report, Belgium will also increase the maximum period a terror suspect can be detained without charge from 24 hours to 72.

All fighters who return to Belgium from Syria will be systematically imprisoned, and a "Molenbeek plan" will be drawn up to prevent further radicalisation in the Brussels district where several of the Paris terror suspects lived. Enditem