Brussels New Year's Eve attack plot foiled as police arrest two suspects

Police in Belgium have arrested two people suspected of planning New Year's Eve attacks in Brussels. Raids took place on Sunday and Monday in the eastern Liège province and in Flemish-speaking Brabant.

Six people were detained but four were later released. Prosecutors said they did not have direct contact with the Paris attackers, some of whom were from Belgium. One of the arrested is accused of leading and recruiting for a terrorist cell.

Military clothing and propaganda materials were reportedly seized during the raids but no weapons or explosives. The suspects were thought to be planning attacks against "symbolic targets" in the Belgian capital.

Brussels was under lockdown in the aftermath of the Paris attacks when the terror alert was raised to its highest level.