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14 Detained In Alleged Plot To Free Terrorist

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By STEPHEN CASTLE, The New York Times

Published: December 23, 2007

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Belgian authorities detained 14 people Friday whom they described as Islamic extremists planning to use explosives to free a supporter of al-Qaida who is imprisoned for plotting an attack on a Belgian air base. The authorities said raids in 15 locations, mostly in Brussels, had turned up explosives and arms.

In a speech, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt warned, "Other acts of violence cannot be ruled out," and security was stepped up at airports, rail stations and other public places.

The U.S. embassy in Belgium said in a statement that there was "a heightened risk of terrorist attack in Brussels," but that it had no information on any specific targets.

Europe in general is on alert for possible terrorist attacks during the holiday season. The two Dec. 11 truck bombings in Algiers have raised further concerns, particularly in Belgium and France, which have large North African populations.
Terrorist cells linked to al-Qaida are thought to have used Belgium as a recruiting ground and a source of fake passports and other documents. Experts have said that because of Belgium's sizable immigrant population and because it lies within a short drive of four other countries, it can be difficult for security services to track suspects.

Under Belgian law, the authorities have five days to formally arrest the 14.

According to the Belgian Interior Ministry, they intended to try to free Nizar Trabelsi, a former professional soccer player from Tunis who was arrested in Belgium shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Trabelsi was tried and convicted of planning an attack on Kleine Brogel, a Belgian air base where about 100 U.S. military personnel are stationed. He was sentenced in 2003 to 10 years in prison.

At his trial, Trabelsi claimed he had met Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan and said he intended to kill American soldiers.

Didier de Quevy, a lawyer who represented Trabelsi at his trial, said he no longer acted for him.

Trabelsi's location was not made public, but an Interior Ministry spokesman, Peter Mertens, said he was "moved regularly."

In April 2007, two men posing as tourists hijacked a helicopter and flew into the yard of a prison near Liege, in the east of the country, to pick up an inmate.

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