Belgium on alert after al-Qaida gang held

Security was stepped up across Belgium today after 14 people were arrested accused of planning to break an al-Qaida attacker out of jail.

Airports, stations and Christmas markets were given extra guards after police said they could not be certain they had captured all those involved.

The armed group wanted to free Nizar Trabelsi, a 37-year-old Tunisian, who was sentenced to the maximum 10 years in prison four years ago for planning to drive a car bomb into the canteen at a Belgian air base where about 100 American military personnel are stationed.

A spokeswoman for the federal prosecutor said: “Since it could not be excluded that the group had other plans and because of the heightened terror threat this time of year, it was decided no risk should be taken.”