Brussels Police Detain Five in Raids Linked to Paris Attacks

BRUSSELS (AP/Reuters) —
A Belgian special forces police officer patrols a street during a police raid in central Brussels, Belgium, December 20, 2015, which, according to Belgian media, is in connection with last month's deadly Paris attack. REUTERS/Yves Herman TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
A Belgian special forces police officer patrols a street during a police raid in central Brussels, Belgium, Sunday, which, according to Belgian media, is in connection with last month’s deadly Paris attack. (Reuters/Yves Herman)

Belgian authorities have detained 5 people, including two brothers, after two days of raids related to the recent Paris attacks.

The federal prosecutor’s office said two people were detained following a house search Monday in the Laeken district of Brussels. On Sunday evening, another Brussels house was searched on orders from an investigating judge specializing in terrorism. Two brothers found there were taken in for questioning, as well as a friend of theirs.

The prosecutor’s office said an analysis of phone records led to Sunday’s search. Authorities said they found no weapons or explosives at either residence, and did not identify those detained.

The investigating judge will decide later today whether to keep the five in custody.

The Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, which left 130 people dead.

Prosecutors noted that the raids were carried out in connection with the Paris attacks.

Following the attacks in Paris, the focus of the investigation turned to Belgium, where several people suspected of having aided the terrorists have been arrested.

Fugitive Brussels native Salah Abdeslam, who is suspected of direct involvement in the Paris attacks, is still at large.

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