Police surround apartment entered by four armed men in Belgium

Four armed men have entered an apartment in the western Belgian city of Ghent.

Police said that, three hours after the men entered the apartment, it was still unclear whether they had taken any hostages.

It does not initially appear to be an act of terror, said federal police spokeswoman Annemie Serlippens.

“There appears to be nothing political. And it does not seem to be going that way,” she said.

By mid-morning a large police operation had been set up in the working-class neighbourhood to keep bystanders away from the scene.

Media reported that two months ago there was a hostage incident in Ghent linked to extortion.