Skip to content
Magazine
Friday, August 1, 2025
SUBSCRIBE
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
  • About Us
  • Belgium News
    • Belgium Police News
    • Brussels News
  • EU Institutions News
    • European Commission News
    • European Parliament News
    • European Council News
  • Europe News
  • World News
  • Belgium Business News
  • Culture and Society News
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
SUBSCRIBE

Terror Threat Level in Belgium Maintains at 3 After 2023 Spike in Extremist Activities

Simona Mazzeo by Simona Mazzeo
11 May 2024
in Belgium News
Terror Threat Level in Belgium Maintains at 3 After 2023 Spike in Extremist Activities

Brussels ( Brussels Morning) – Belgium maintains its terror threat level at 3 due to increased extremist activities in 2023, following a significant rise in reported threats.

According to Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis (OCAM), the threat level will for now remain at 3 out of 4 in Belgium, revealing a probable and severe threat. A shifting to level 4 – as seen in France – is not being evaluated, according to a spokesperson.

France increased its Vigipirate plan to the highest threat level, termed an “emergency attack”, after the terrorist raid in Moscow on Friday night. The Islamic State group asserted responsibility for the attack, which forced at least 137 fatalities and injured 182 people, based on the latest figures.

In Belgium, meanwhile, OCAM – liable for threat analysis – decided to preserve a threat level of 3 out of 4. This level has been in standing since the Brussels attack on 16 October, which claimed the lives of two Swedish football lovers. The rate has been maintained since then, partly due to escalating concerns in the Middle East and the wave of anti-Semitism, OCAM explained.

Level 4 represents an “imminent and severe threat”, a justification not presently warranted, according to the coordination unit.

However, in 2023 Belgium’s OCAD marked a significant rise in threats. OCAD had received 41% more terror threats in 2023, either directly or via partners, it announced in its annual report in 2023. It registered 332 reports on terrorism or extremism in 2023 compared to 236 threats received in 2022. 

The rise was attributed to the “major emotional trigger events” seen in 2023, which prompted strong emotions and led extremists to take action. It pointed to the escalating Israeli aggression on Gaza following the Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. Additionally, the 16 October attack in Brussels, in which two Swedish football fans were shot dead on Boulevard d’Ypres near Place Sainctelette, a 20-minute walk from Grand Place, had a sizeable impact on the number of threats OCAD received.

More than half (55%) of all 332 reports acquired by OCAD were classified as a low danger, likely including false school bombing signals reported last year. Just over a third of the threats were rated as medium, while 7% were considered very severe, with the October terror attack rated as “very serious and imminent.” OCAD analyzed threat declarations before determining a level of 1 to 4 and took any necessary protective actions.

“Since this attack, the general threat level in Belgium was raised to 3 (severe) on a scale of 4,” the report read. “In the Brussels region, level 4, the highest level, was in place for a while. Our country had not been in threat level 3 since January 2018.”

OCAD received the most threat reports in October, followed by November – a clear influence of the terror attack. Spring 2023 saw a large number of files concerning multiple individuals that led to arrests, while July and August saw the lowest number of threat reports.

Most incidents happened in Brussels (126 reports), followed by Antwerp (86), Liège (44), Ghent (34), and Mons (20). The remaining threats were not allocated clear geographical locations. The distribution of threats was essentially the same as in 2022. Most threats involved lone actors, with just over 10% of threat reports involving plots by a group of people.

Related News:

  • UK steps up terror alert level to ‘severe’
  • More than 600 potential terrorists in Germany, threat level high
  • Belarus declares Poland’s Belsat news an extremist organisation
  • Brexit’s looming cliff edge cause spike in delivery prices
Next Post
Rising Homelessness and Drug Use: Challenges Facing Brussels

Rising Homelessness and Drug Use: Challenges Facing Brussels

Latest post

EU-elections-UK

EU elections: UK looks on from the “outside”

1 year ago
Galeries-Royales-Saint-Hubert

What Makes Galeries Royales Saint-Hubert an “Institution”?

1 year ago

Most Read

    Follow Brussels Morning
    Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

    Browse Important News

    Belgium News
    Brussels News
    Culture and Society News
    Economy News
    EU Institutions News
    European Commission News
    European Council News
    European Parliament News
    Europe News
    Health And Fitness News
    Southeast Europe News
    Sustainable Perspective
    World News
    Diplomacy News
    US Elections News

    About Us

    Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

    More Info

    • About Us
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookies Policy

    Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2024

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Belgium News
      • Belgium Police News
      • Brussels News
    • Brussels Bubble
      • European Parliament News
      • European Commission News
      • European Council News
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World News
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT