European Union HQ among possible Belgium jihadist targets

The European Commission is among possible targets for jihadist fighters returning from Syria, reports said Saturday, as the Belgian authorities cracked down in an effort to thwart extremist attacks. Dutch public broadcaster NOS said at least two people among those arrested in the Belgian operations came from The Hague. Belgian daily L’Echo said earlier authorities had carried out pre-emptive operations in recent months against jihadists and symphathisers with the Islamic State (IS) extremist group, resulting in several arrests.

Individual commissioners were not particularly targeted. It would be more like the Jewish museum attack… with the aim to kill as many people as possible.

Dutch public broadcaster NOS

Officials declined to provide any details but did confirm that several operations had been carried out. Up to 400 Belgian nationals are estimated to have gone to fight in Syria, with about 90 known to have returned home. The European Commission is the public face of the European Union and one of the most high-profile buildings in Brussels. Brussels is also home to NATO headquarters and many other international companies and organisations.

"We are working full time on the problem of the returning fighters. We work together with the security services and that led us to carry out several operations.

A federal judicial spokesman in Belgium

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