Muslim extremists suspected of al-Qaida jailbreak plot arrested in Belgium

BELGIAN police yesterday arrested 14 Muslim extremists suspected of planning the jailbreak of an al-Qaida prisoner convicted of plotting a terrorist attack on US air base personnel, officials said.

Extra police were deployed across the capital at airports, subway stations and other public places. The US Embassy warned Americans of “a heightened risk of terrorist attack in Brussels” although it had no indication of any American targets.

Police arrested the 14 in night raids across the country and discovered arms and explosives apparently intended for the jailbreak.