Shots fired at police as suspects linked to Paris attacks hunted in Brussels

Shots have been fired at Belgian police officers during a search in Brussels “linked to the Paris attacks investigation”. The raid came as Belgian police continued their hunt for Salah Abdeslam, a key suspect in the Paris shootings and bombings in which 130 people were killed. "Police were fired at,“ Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesman for the federal prosecutor said. France’s Interior Minister has said French police units were involved in the operation. Two suspects are said to be on the run.

The police are just saying something’s happened on the road. They’re focused on that rather than telling people what’s going on.

Local resident Surya Jonckheere, tells the BBC

Witnesses reported a heavy exchange of fire lasting several minutes, RTL radio said. People in two schools and two nurseries near the scene the suburb of Forest were asked to remain indoors and the security cordon around the area was extended, the local mayor’s office said. Abdeslam, who is believed to have played a key logistical role in the killings, fled across the border to Belgium hours afterwards. He and his associate Mohamed Abrini, both from the Molenbeek area of Brussels, are still at large despite concerted efforts to track them down.

Brussels