Belgian and French police alerted to possibility of terror attacks

Police and anti-terrorism investigators have been alerted to the possibility that small groups of extremists have left Syria for France and Belgium with plans to stage attacks, a French security official said.

Belgian intelligence services sent a note to French counterparts about the possible groups, and it was sent to police across France. French authorities remain “very cautious” about the information because they receive such notes routinely, the official said.

The official said the information does not change the government’s overall understanding of the threat.