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Updated at 1.40pm
BELGIAN POLICE ARRESTED five more people in a new series of anti-terrorism raids today, prosecutors said, as the capital Brussels was locked down for a third day under a state of maximum alert.
The arrests bring to 21 the total number of people detained since police launched a major security operation last night, with 16 people having been taken into custody earlier, they said.
No arms or weapons were found in the raids, prosecutors added.
Key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam is believed to remain on the run after officials said he was not among those arrested on Sunday night.
Abdeslam’s elder brother Brahim blew himself up outside a Paris bar in the November 13 attacks.
Armed officers and troops have been patrolling the near deserted streets of the tense Belgian capital all weekend after the government raised the terror alert to the highest level of four in the city.
The European Union and NATO, which are based in Brussels, both said they would increase security and urged non-essential staff to work from home today.
Michel said the Brussels metro system would remain shut and schools and universities would be closed over concerns that jihadists were planning a repeat of the Paris gun and suicide bombing attacks on 13 November.
‘Several suspects’
The historic Grand Place square in central Brussels, usually bustling, was virtually empty at the weekend, with business badly hit in the run-up to Christmas as anxious residents heeded warnings to stay home.
With a massive manhunt on for several suspects linked to the carnage in Paris, Belgian police urged the media and social media not to show live footage of the police operations taking place yesterday evening.
Many Belgians responded in light-hearted fashion by tweeting pictures of cats under the hashtag #BrusselsLockdown.
Interior Minister Jan Jambon earlier said the authorities were looking for “several suspects” and not just for Abdeslam, who is thought to have slipped past French security forces after taking part in the Paris attacks, which were claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group.
French police meanwhile released a photo of the third of three men who blew themselves up outside France’s national stadium during the rampage, which also targeted the Bataclan concert hall as well as a string of bars and restaurants.
The man in the picture passed through Greece with one of the other suicide bombers, carrying a Syrian passport in the name of Mohammad al-Mahmod, a source close to the investigation said.
Obama ‘not afraid’
With the world on edge over the jihadist threat, US President Barack Obama said the most powerful tool in the fight against IS was to say “that we’re not afraid”.
He added that he would go ahead with a December visit to Paris for UN climate talks and called on other countries to show similar resolve.
French President Francois Hollande will embark on a diplomatic offensive in the coming days in a bid to forge a broad anti-IS coalition.
He will host Britain’s David Cameron today before meeting Obama in Washington on Tuesday, holding talks with Germany’s Angela Merkel in Paris on Wednesday and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday.
The UN Security Council on Friday authorised “all necessary measures” to fight jihadist violence after a wave of deadly attacks, including the downing of a Russian aircraft in Egypt with the loss of 224 lives and the storming of a luxury hotel in Mali that left 19 dead.
The suspected ringleader of the November 13 attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, died in a massive police raid in Paris on Wednesday.
He was a notorious Belgian jihadist thought to be fighting in Syria, and his presence in Europe has raised troubling questions about a Europe-wide breakdown in intelligence and border security.
Questions remain too over the role played by Belgian-born Abdeslam — who used to run a bar with his brother Brahim in Brussels.
A third brother, Mohamed Abdeslam, told Belgian TV on Sunday he believed Salah had at the last moment decided not go through with the attack.
He said the family wanted him to give himself up.
“That way he can give us the answers we seek, our family and the families of the victims,” he said.
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Nice to see she has the support of “tanned indignation” to her left. Should she not be in Greece burning our money?
Should you not be learning the difference between left and right?
Liam Tracey, FG troll
She lives in Ballyfermot!! Plenty of people live outside and commute into the city.
Party of the people my ballox.
Hugh, do you ask for every story concerning Sinn Fein or are they assigned to you? Genuine question.
I think it works like this: Sinn Fein do things. It gets reported.
… and Hugh reports it if it involves Sinn Féin.
I think it’s pretty well known that an phoblacht is published from a biased perspective, TAL sopny
once we see Hugh, we know its going to be about Sinn Fein.
the headline and the article clearly points out its about sf before you get down to see its from Hugh.
Would it be fair to say most people living in Dublin don’t know anything about the mayor – their name, what they do etc. ? Compare that with London and it’s all about Boris.
Well in fairness I don’t think the mayor of London was well known until they decided in 1998 to change the structure of London politics and have a directly elected mayor of Greater London. They tried doing something similar here to have a mayor of Greater Dublin but the move was blocked by Fingal County Council, could still happen yet though.
Interesting – didn’t know that.
let them eat cake.
You’re at it early this morning Hugh! Non story from a dud journalist..
Now now, no need for the bullying
Now now you’d have to be of a very sensitive disposition to consider that observation bullying. Hugh has made his bias and lack of journalistic integrity very clear over the last 12 months or more, with his constant anti SF and anti left articles and his pro government and pro government politicians articles. The article on how attractive Leo Varadkar was is one of the stand out articles..
How is this an anti sinn fein article?
He is just reporting the facts.
If you find the facts embarrassing or negative about Sinn Fein, then Sinn Fein is the problem, not the messenger.
That’s fairly basic stuff.
This is clearly one of his more subtle anti SF bias articles. The use of capitals in WILL in the headline insinuates that this is a shocking or surprising turn of events, which it is clearly not. There are other subtle examples in the article, I’ll let you read it back yourself! Also the list of “facts” about our government that hugh could be writing on is endless but he decides to write this non story? Go figure!
Correct about the use of ‘WILL’ in the headline, by highlighting it in capital letters if gave the impression that this was a rare or wrong occurrence.
It seems from the article most mayors live for the year In the mansion house. Was there an article last year when Christy Burke decided not to live there?
Ray you appear to have typed ‘a better place’ in error, did you mean to type ‘a bitter place’?
No tap
The Shinners are really sensitive this morning!
i hope it comes wit a driveway !!! Wouldnt want 2 c her fancy volvo gettin clamped again outside her front door !!!
She’l have to bring her shopping in around the back just in case that Fine Gael booze and ciggie hound Byrne gets a scent.
Byrne was the Lord Mayor a few yrs ago -,Wonder did she live in the Mansion House. I don’t c anything wrong with the LM luving there. with the city being dug up for the Luas,Extension, she might be more priductive living there – probably save her a minimum if at least 2hrs a day commuting.
in fairness I’d move my family in too if it was a perk of the job. that said I’m not a member of a party that lauds the average industrial wage and piety before booking first class flights and syphoning as much taxpayer cash into party coffers.
SF are putting down roots that will grow into them leading the country.
Any idea as to where the country might end up with SF leading??
A better place.
@ Ray Farrelly
Where ?… examples please
Look up sinn fein policies.
@ Ray Farrelly
I did ?… that’s why i am confused where we are going but you seem to know ?..
Each to their own jeff.
@ Ray Farrelly
“Each to their own jeff.” is it a secret only SF members get to know ? As “Each to their own” Sounds very right wing !.. I knew SF are Republicans, I didn’t know they where Tea Party Republicans..
Thejeff.I am not a member of sinn fein just an ordinary joe soap with an opinion or do you think I should not have one?
@ Ray Farrelly
Very defensive Ray…
Of course you should & have a right to an opinion, all I am asking is what is in your opinion will SF will bring us ? & some details on the how they will do it in your opinion ?… details man… I am after all the one with the doubts on SF economy policies (i like some.. Public sector wage cap etc, & competition policies & social reform in fact very Tea party)
TheJEFF. Read sinn fein’s plan for economic plan for recovery-there is a better way.I belive in that not everyone will but i do.
@ Ray Farrelly
I have read the SF economic policy… read my comments… before answering…
SF “plan for recovery??? we are recovering” ? have you seen the growth & unemployment figure lately #outdated
“I believe in that not everyone will but i do”.. what is it you believe in ?… is my question for you & SF seem a mystery as SF seem to say anything to get a vote
Another ‘scoop ‘ from the investigative reporter of the year.
If other Mayors lived there and has done in the past ?!? Can’t understand why this is even a story …. Oh wait … It’s Sinn Fein. That should justify it. Slow news day guys.
Isn’t the term “mansion house” a tautology?
Fooking hell what a non story are we going to be subjected to these idiotic news stories every time Dublin gets a new lord mayor?, someone should tell Hugh that there is life outside the pale!
Why not “Dublin mayor to live in mansion house”?.. Methinks the journalist’ has an agenda here
Has it got Sky?
I think that its great that she moves into the Mansion House. It will bring life back into the building. Hope that all her family from Crumlin and Ballyfermot get to stay there as well. One big Party House ……. Best of luck to her!
She should put the homeless in there they could do with a bed . Most people consider it a Fianna Fail Fine Gael holiday him anyway. Put the needy in and give them a roof.
B-egan do you not thats the governments job.
Think
wow Hugh fantastic journalism there how about a real story the next time rather than pointing out the norm ? would you have wrote it if it was a fine gael mayor ? please try an article with some real news sometime without your political agenda involved
Ha Ha Ha I used to get annoyed at all the anti SF posts on Anti SF Stories but now it gives me a giggle, ye are like rabid dogs trying to protect your ivory tower because you know when SF are in Government your in for a reality bite , see ye on the way down :)
Críona lives in D10 so it only makes sense. Christy Burke was only a bit across the river.
FG/lab refuse a commission of investigation into Another dubious deal by NAMA and the little matter of €10 million public monies for “fixers”, yet we get a innuendo piece about the mayor and her official residence from high or boy. Wonder what his fixer fee is???
It’s all about the “WILL”
“Sinn Féin ate my hamster”
Huge is morphing, in more than one way, into a Fionnan Sheehan clone.
Promised a big Denis O Brien gig was ya, Hugh ?
Does the gaff come with it’s own parking spot? ??? Ahh clampers, clampers everywhere.
Typical Sinn Fein mentality…. Cry & cry some more about poverty and how things need to change. And when one gets a taste of power, both hands are out to grab what it can!!! horrible party
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