BRUSSELS, Belgium — Belgian authorities on Saturday released 14 suspects detained over an alleged plot to free an al-Qaida prisoner after a court decided there was insufficient evidence to hold them for more than 24 hours, the Federal Prosecutor’s office said.
The government’s Crisis Center said the investigation was not over. And Lieve Pellens, spokeswoman for the prosecutor’s office, said tightened anti-terrorism measures triggered by the arrest of the suspected Islamic militants on Friday would remain in place over the holidays.
“We think there is still a threat,” Pellens said in a telephone interview.
Police picked up the 14 suspects in a series of early-morning raids Friday. Earlier reports indicated that explosives and arms were also seized, but Pellens said Saturday that searches of the suspects’ homes had found no explosives, weapons or other evidence to persuade the court to charge them with any offense or keep them in jail.
Unlike some other European nations, Belgium does not have anti-terrorist laws that allow suspects to be held for longer than 24 hours without charge, Pellens said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
