Belgium release al-Qaeda suspects

Updated 15.18 Sat Dec 22 2007
Keywords: militants, Islamic, al-Qaeda, Belgium

Belgian authorities have released 14 suspected Islamic militants after they were detained over an alleged plot to free an al-Qaeda prisoner.

Under Belgian law, suspects can be held for up to 24 hours before a magistrate decides whether there are sufficient grounds to hold them further.

Interior Ministry officials said heightened security measures would remain in place until the start of the New Year

The men were released due to lack of evidence, but Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said there were indications of terrorist attack plans after police foiled an attempt to free al-Qaeda suspect Nizar Trabelsi from jail.

Trabelsi, a Tunisian, was arrested in September 2001 for plotting attacks on US targets in Belgium.

Interior Ministry officials said heightened security measures would remain in place until the start of the New Year.

A spokesman said: "They have all been released. But the measures will remain in force until January 2."

© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.