2nd LD Writethru: Brussels alert to stay at maximum level
Xinhua, November 23, 2015 Adjust font size:
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel confirmed on Sunday evening at a press conference that the level 4 of terror alert, the highest possible, for the Brussels region remained in place.
He said the rest of Belgium remains on level 3, following a new assessment by OCAM, the Belgian Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis.
"I confirm that we fear there might be a similar attack to Paris," said Charles Michel.
The Prime Minister announced additional security measures in three main areas: maintaining and strengthening the police and military in the Brussels-Capital Region, halting big events in busy areas, and paying special attention to public transport, with the city's subway and underground tram network remaining closed on Monday.
Schools and universities in the Brussels region will be closed on Monday, a measure described by some journalists as "historic".
The Prime Minister also wished to thank residents for staying calm and launched a general call for caution and vigilance.
"Everything is being done to get back to a normal life", Michel repeated several times.
A new assessment by OCAM will be carried out on Monday afternoon and will be forwarded to the crisis center and the Belgian National Security Council.
The prime minister declined to give information about the progress of investigations. Endit