Statement: Terrorist threat alert raised to Level 4 for Brussels-Capital Region

Statement by Brussels-Capital Region Minister-President Rudi Vervoort and the mayors of the 19 districts (communes) of the region:

"A new evaluation of the OCAM/CUTA (Co-ordination Unit for Threat Analysis) has set up a Level 4 terrorist threat for the Brussels-Capital Region. This was decided during a co-ordination meeting that was held at the National Crisis Center.

"During the night of 20 November, a first set of urgent measures was adopted, such as the closing of the Metro in Brussels.

"Naturally, we have assured continuous information about the situation of the mayors and the chiefs of police corps by their representatives at the National Crisis Center. A series of measures have already been adopted in this regard. The co-ordination of those measures is essential, and it is up to the Brussels Regional level to do so. On Saturday (21 November) the Regional Security Council brought together the Minister-President, all the mayors of the Brussels communes (districts) and all the chiefs of police corps. They have received an update on the situation, notably from the OCAM/CUTA (Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis) as well as from the federal prosecutor.

"The following common decisions have been adopted:

1. The diminution of major events and major meetings in order to free the required police capacity. It is important to note that the cancellation of those events and closing of major public sites are not linked to the nature of the events, but to the extra security they require.This extra security is required to ensure the overall safety of the Brussels residents.

"More specifically, the Regional Security Council advises, for this week-end:
- To cancel all activities in public buildings, whether local or regional
- To close all malls and commercial centres
- To cancel all the markets on the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region
- To cancel all sports competitions

"Those closings and cancelling are exceptional and only aim in free all available police units in order to protect the territory. We have defined, together with the Mayors and the Chiefs of Police Corps, the required measures on the territory of the Region. It has been convened that a transversal approach will be adopted regarding all the specific and extraordinary safety measures, across all the territory and between all actors. We work closely with the federal authorities in order to mobilize more units on the ground.

2. The closing of the metro (subway) and 'pre-metro' (tramways running underground) until Sunday (22 November), 15h. I want to underline that the rest of public transportation works as usual.

3. The Regional Security Council met in order to update the measures to be taken and new initiative to be decided.

"We want to publicly thank all our police and security units who are doing very important work and are working 24/7 to ensure the security of all residents. 'N0 risk' doesn’t exist, but we are collectively taking all necessary precautions and measures for Brussels residents to live peacefully and safely. We call on the public to stay calm and remain informed."

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