Halt to New Year Festivities in Belgium by PM

As a result  of  terror alert New Year fireworks and festivities have been cancelled in the Belgian capital, Brussels,

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the decision had been taken “given information we have received”.

Earlier in the week, police arrested two people suspected of planning attacks during the festive season.

Belgium has been on high alert since the terror attacks of 13 November in Paris. Several of the perpetrators are thought to have been based in Belgium.

Brussels Mayor Yvan Mayeur told state broadcaster RTBF: “Together with the interior minister, we’ve decided to not have the celebrations on Thursday evening.”

Last year 100,000 people turned out in Brussels to welcome  the New Year, Mr Mayeur said.

“In these circumstances, we can’t check everyone,” he said.

Last month, Brussels was placed under a four-day lockdown closing universities, schools and the metro system, amid fears of a Paris-style attack.

The shootings and bombings in the French capital left 130 people dead and hundreds wounded.

Belgium and Brussels have been central to investigations into the Paris attacks, which are thought to have been masterminded by a Belgian national, Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Other Belgian nationals or Brussels residents were involved.

More Belgians have gone to fight for the militant Islamic State (IS) group than any other European country.