Summary

  • 15 January 2015

  • Major anti-terror operation by police in eastern Belgium

  • Gunfight in town of Verviers as alleged jihadists targeted

  • Two suspected militants dead, one arrested

  • Prosecutor says men had returned from fighting in Syria

  • Arrest warrants also issued in Brussels region

Live Reporting

Alastair Beach and Mario Cacciottolo

  1. Video emerges reportedly showing raid

    Belgian newspaper Le Soir has published what it says is the "first video" of the anti-terrorist operation in Verviers. It appears to show police blocking off a road as gunshots are heard in the background - though the footage has not been verified by the BBC.

  2. Get in touch

    Nicolas who lives in the area told the BBC: "I was driving back from the bank when we heard that something was happening. We were really worried. We didn't believe it at first. We couldn't get access to Rue Du Palais as the area had been shut down and the police are all around. We left the area as we were worried about what was happening."

  3. Get in touch

    Marylou spoke to the BBC, she said: "We were going home when we saw police cars. We thought there was an accident then we heard something blowing. We started running but did not understand what had happened. There were a lot of gun shots. I pushed my children and they cried. They are just terrified. Our home is 400 meters, two streets away, from that place."

  4. Press conference underway

    The emergency press conference is under way

  5. Press conference due

    Police are due to hold an emergency news conference on the unfolding situation in Belgium.

  6. According to AP news agency, witnesses speaking to Belgium's RTBF radio are describing a series of explosions followed by rapid fire at the centre of Verviers, near a bakery and in the area of the train station.

  7. Anti-terror police on streets of Verviers

    Pictures coming through from Verviers show anti-terror police blocking a road in the town, following the raids.

    police block the street of Colline in Verviers Eastern Belgium, 15 January 2014, after an anti terrorist operationEPA

  8. Raids 'taking place across Belgium'

    AFP news agency is also reporting there are a series of other anti-terror raids now under way across Belgium, including in Brussels

  9. Raid targets had 'returned from Syria'

    Belgian media reports that the men targeted during the Verviers raid were under surveillance after returning from Syria a week ago, according to the AFP news agency

  10. Witnesses in Vervier reported hearing heavy gunfire for several minutes and at least three explosions.

  11. Two people have been killed during the raid in Verviers, local officials say. A third person was wounded, reports say.

  12. Welcome to our live coverage of events in eastern Belgium, where police have launched a major anti-terror operation.