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Brussels raises terror alert, 'serious and imminent' threat

By Amy R. Connolly

BRUSSELS, Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Belgium raised its terror alert in Brussels to the highest level Saturday after a "serious and imminent threat," closing the city's metro until Sunday and encouraging people to avoid concerts, shopping centers and other crowded areas.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said the threat of attacks against the Belgian capital are similar to those that happened in Paris last week. Football games have been canceled and armed soldiers and police were deployed outside many hotels.

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"The level four was set for Brussels based on a serious and imminent threat," Michel said. "This is the result of relatively precise information of a risk of attacks, similar to those that took place in Paris."

In the days since the Paris attacks that left at least 127 dead, Belgium and Brussels have been the focus of police raids looking for terror suspects. The country was home to alleged Paris ringleader Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed in a police raid outside Paris. One suspect who continues to elude capture, Salah Abdeslam, 26, returned home to Brussels after the attacks.

Outside Brussels, the rest of the country will maintain its current threat level.

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