The police at the Porte de Hal museum in Sainte Gilles foiled a possible terrorist attack Thursday afternoon when they stopped a driver after he ran several red lights in Brussels. Police said they were also investigating the driver’s insurance status at the time; but the driver was unwilling to allow a search of his vehicle. When the officers forced open the trunk of the car, they discovered several gas canisters.
A safety perimeter of 200 meters was placed around the car, which was stopped near the city’s ancient gate, Porte de Hal, police said.
Mayor Charles Picque said the driver, a “radicalized man,” was detained by police during the evening rush hour.
A small section of Brussels was sealed off and some residents were evacuated from the area Thursday after police discovered several gas canisters in the trunk of a car they stopped after it ran a red light.
“The car was stopped because the driver jumped several red lights,” a police spokesperson told media. “The police then noticed several gas canisters in the boot and rather than take any risks, they called for help from the army bomb squad.”
Pique was quoted by Nieuwsblad as saying the driver was on a list of suspects linked to radical organizations.
Nearby shops and various forms of public transportation were also closed as a result of the ongoing investigation.
The city of Brussels has been placed on Level 3 Alert, the second highest, due to the threat. One year ago, 32 people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks on the city by Islamic State-linked (ISIS) operatives.