Belgium: The Threat to the Christmas Markets

-Brussels

Recently, we reported on how German police thwarted a planned terrorist attack on one or more of that country's Christmas markets. In recent years, there have been a number of Islamist attacks on Christmas markets in Europe.

In Belgium, authorities have issued a threat assessment for Christmas markets and the country as a whole. The threat levels are one to four, four being the highest risk. Two level means an attack is "unlikely". The below article from today's Dutch-language daily, De Morgen, is translated by Fousesquawk.

 https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/dreigingsniveau-voor-kerstmarkten-daalt-rest-van-het-land-blijft-op-niveau-3~b4619e57/

News-Domestic

Threat level for Christmas markets decreasing, the rest of the country remains at level 3

Caption: Picture of Christmas Market Brussels 2021

At Christmas markets and end-of-year events, the threat level is down to 2. That is confirmed by Interior Minister Annalies Verlinden (cd&v-Christian Democrat and Flemish party) today in the federal Parliament. For the entire country, the threat level remains at 3 for now.

-SVM  7 December 2023, 18:26

According to Verlinden, there are no signs that Christmas markets are a specific target. "Local governments, naturally as always, can request an additional threat evaluation from the OCAD (Threat Level Analysis Agency) if they deem it necessary," (the ministry) said.  

The minister could not share concrete measures surrounding the threat levels due to security measures. "After local risk assessments, the police zones will take necessary measures to protect these activities and events, " the minister stated.

The heightened threat level is in force in our country since the October 16 attack against Swedish soccer supporters took place. In the international context, such as the war between Israel and Hamas, the risk of an attack, according to the experts, remains high.