On Edge in Belgium

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Tis the season for elevated security fears. The Religion of Peace is once again in the news and in Belgium of all places.

"The release of the 14 does not mean the investigation is finished, all the material that was found is being examined," said Alain Lefevre, a director of the center. "Depending on the results, our measures will be adapted."

The 14 are expected to remain under police surveillance and could be detained again if more evidence is uncovered. The authorities did not release the suspects' identities.

Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and the Prosecutor's Office alleged that the suspects had planned to use explosives and weapons to free Nizar Trabelsi, a 37-year-old Tunisian sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2003 for planning to a drive a car bomb into the cafeteria of a Belgian air base where about 100 U.S. military personnel are stationed.

The U.S. Embassy had warned Americans "there is currently a heightened risk of terrorist attack in Brussels," although it said it had no indication of specific targets.

The authorities tightened security, warning of a heightened threat of attacks despite the arrests. The police in Brussels stepped up patrols at the airport, at subway stations and at the central Christmas market, which draws large crowds of holiday shoppers.

"Other acts of violence are not to be excluded," Verhofstadt warned.

Pellens said intelligence that an attack could be imminent meant the security forces had to act without waiting to gather the evidence.

"We could not treat this as we would a normal criminal case," Pellens said.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/12/22/e urope/belgium.1-193640.php