Belgium on edge after botched attack in Antwerp

Following a series of terror-related scares, Belgium seems to be on the edge. With the London parliament attacks, which took place a day after the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks in Brussels (the capital city of Belgium), the security forces have been on full alert. The situation became further complicated after a botched attack in the port city of Antwerp on Thursday.

The Antwerp attacker has been identified by the Belgian police as Mohamed R., a 39-year-old French resident of North African descent. He tried to mow down pedestrians with his car in a busy shopping area in Meir, Belgium’s biggest shopping area. Soldiers patrolling the area asked him to stop. As he sped on, special forces stopped the vehicle by force. The police recovered knives, a shotgun and an unidentified liquid from his vehicle. Bomb disposal squads were called in. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said his country remained vigilant. “Our security services did an outstanding job in Antwerp.”

On Friday, Mohamed was charged by the federal prosecutor's office with "an attempt to murder in a terrorist manner, an attempt to hit and wound in a terrorist manner and arms infractions". Brussels is under a high security blanket after the incidents in London and Antwerp. Security forces have been massively deployed across the city, especially around sensitive installations like the European Parliament, the embassy of the United States and major transportations hubs, including metro stations.

Joost Renders, who worked in a pharmaceutical company, said the presence of so many police officers and soldiers out on the street looked a little out of place in a city known for its carefree culture. But, he added, it was important because lives are at stake. He, however, seemed to be a little bothered about random checks being carried out by security officers. Most people, however, seemed to be taking the heightened security protocols in stride and are moving on.

THE WEEK team, in fact, had a slightly unnerving experience at the hands of the special security forces. After noting that they were being photographed, a couple of members of a small detachment of paramilitary forces stationed near the iconic Rue de la Loi street in Brussels, not too far from the Belgian Parliament, approached our photo editor and asked him quite rudely what his business was. He was taken to a vehicle where the rest of the contingent was waiting and was allowed to leave only after explaining to the group's leader that he was a journalist from India and were in the city on an official assignment. He was, however, warned that no pictures of the special security forces were to be taken.

In Belgium, the wounds of the past bloody attacks and attempts still seem to be raw.