Houses searched in Molenbeek after hoax call
On Sunday evening properties in the Onafhankelijkheidsstraat and the Kempenstraat, near to the Beekkant metro station, were searched.
The Mayor of Molenbeek Françoise Schepmans (Francophone liberal) and the Federal Judicial Authorities have both confirmed that the searches took place.
The police were looking for the fugitive Salah Abdeslam in connection with the terror attacks in Paris on 13 November. They had information that Mr Abdeslam was in Molenbeek. However, he was not found during Sunday evening’s operation.
Later, police raided a property near to the Ninove Gate in Molenbeek. The property was the home of the person that had given the police the tip.
Police certain that call was a hoax
The Brussels regional news site brusselnieuws.be reports that the police were acting on information that they had received in what turned out to be a hoax call. The caller had told them that Salah Abdeslam was hiding out in one of the houses. The hoaxer will have to pay for the costs incurred as a result of the police operation.