Breaking news out of Belgium where we’re seeing reports that soldiers stopped a potential terror attack in the city of Antwerp when they stopped a van before it could drive through a crowd of people:
Day after #WestminsterAttack a man is arrested in Antwerp after trying to drive his car at high speed onto a shopping street. #Belgium
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 23, 2017
Belgian police say suspect arrested after soldiers stopped him from driving through a crowd in Antwerp https://t.co/2KiS9nm6oc
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 23, 2017
From the Guardian:
Belgian police have arrested a man after he tried to drive into a crowd at high speed in a shopping area of Antwerp, the city’s police chief said.
At 11am a car drove at pedestrians walking along the Meir, Antwerp’s largest shopping street, and “people had to jump to the side” to avoid the vehicle, said Serge Muyters, the Antwerp police chief.
The driver was arrested after a chase in the city centre.
According to reports, the suspect is a French national of North African origin:
#Antwerp: North African person detained after he tried to drive car into crowd at high speed. Additional police and soldiers deployed.
— Seref Isler (@seref_i) March 23, 2017
#BREAKING Driver in Antwerp incident was French national: prosecutor
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 23, 2017
Man arrested in Antwerp incident is French national living in France, authorities in Belgium say.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 23, 2017
Authorities say knives and other weapons were found in the vehicle:
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#Belgium federal prosecutor says knives, other weapons found in vehicle in Antwerp incident.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 23, 2017
And possibly guns and explosive materials:
French Muslim arrested after trying to drive car loaded with liquid gas and assault rifles into crowd in Antwerp https://t.co/G3vLlK2DtA
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) March 23, 2017
Other reports say it was a pellet gun:
Antwerp car was driving at high speed, putting pedestrians in danger. Knives, pellet-style gun found in the boot, Belgian prosecutors say.
— Paul Cruickshank (@CruickshankPaul) March 23, 2017
Or a shotgun:
Shotgun and bladed weapons found in car of man who tried to drive at high speed down busy Antwerp street https://t.co/LmcSVOhinq
— Samuel Osborne (@SamuelOsborne93) March 23, 2017
Today’s thwarted attack comes one year and a day after the 2016 attacks in Brussels:
Terrorists strike airport and subway in Brussels; Dozens dead and wounded [photos, video] https://t.co/tuaIE7GR4D pic.twitter.com/jfc1EFVHRe
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 22, 2016
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