Shooting in Brussels: 16 people arrested in raids, Abdeslam not among them

Belgian security forces have launched a new operation near the main square in Brussels, the Grand Place, local media report. An hour after the operation began, the BBC reported that some streets had been unblocked, and the first results of the operation soon arrived.

Belgian police confirmed 16 arrests in raids in Brussels, but Paris attack participant Salah Abdeslam is not among them. No weapons or explosives were found, and two shots were fired at a vehicle in Molenbeek. The car was later found, with a wounded driver inside who was arrested.

19 searches were carried out in Brussels and 3 in Charleroi, said chief prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt at a midnight press conference.

Raids were also conducted outside Brussels. Brussels is full of security forces personnel, and CNN reports noticeable nervousness among soldiers and police officers. Only soldiers are present on the city's main square, with virtually no citizens.

During the operation, police called on citizens not to post details of the operation on social media, so Belgians flooded social media with pictures and videos of cats to hinder the fugitives.