Reports: 12 arrested in Belgian anti-terror raids

Belgian authorities arrested 12 people overnight during anti-terror raids across the country, according to news reports.

The 12 detainees were arrested on suspicion of plotting attacks within the country, Belgian broadcaster RTBF and the Associated Press reported.

Authorities searched 40 houses in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels, the AP reported. Forty people were questioned in total. Forty people were questioned after the raids.

The raids come as Belgium is under its second highest terror alert since the March 22 Brussels attack that killed 32 people.

Authorities have not found weapons or explosives so far, RTBF reported.

The federal prosecutor’s office did not link the raids to the Brussels attack, even though an eighth suspect was arrested late Friday, according to the AP. The Belgian man, who was identified as as Youssef E.A., was charged with “participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts to terrorist murders.”