Brussels is in lock down for a third day as police hunt for suspects over Paris attacks

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Belgium's terror threat alert was raised to its highest level yesterday
Armed anti-terror police and soldiers tonight carried out raids in Brussels
Armed police and soldiers continued to patrol Brussels' streets today
There were fears that Paris style terror attack was 'imminent' in city
Authorities have stepped up hunt for Paris terrorist, Salah Abdeslam
For the latest on the Paris terrorists visit www.dailymail.co.uk/ParisAttacks

By Jay Akbar and Corey Charlton for MailOnline

Published: 08:19 EST, 22 November 2015 | Updated: 14:38 EST, 22 November 2015

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Belgian police told residents to stay away from their windows and evacuated busy restaurants in raids carried out across the central city tonight.

It comes as it was announced the city would be locked down for a third day tomorrow with the Prime Minister warning of an imminent attack taking place over several areas by terrorists armed with guns and explosives.

Charles Michel, the Prime Minister, said schools, universities and the underground system would have to remain closed tomorrow.

Paris fugitive Salah Abdeslam is just one of several feared to be at large in the city, where the usually thronged streets have been eerily quiet after the country was moved to its highest level of security alert.

Belgium closed the metro system, museums, cinemas and shopping centres, and advised locals to avoid large crowds, while clubs and venues have cancelled events.

Abdeslam, who has been described as 'armed and dangerous', went on the run after taking part in the massacre of 130 in Paris last Friday.

His brother Mohamed, who was arrested following the attacks only to be released without charge, believes he backed out of the attack 'at the very last moment'.

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Shut down: Belgian soldiers and police have been patrolling the streets of Brussels in the second day of the city wide lockdown

Armed: The city shut its metro station and many of its shops after the terror threat level was raised to its highest level yesterday

Patrol: Belgian security officials are meeting today to decide whether to extend the lockdown which has turned Brussels into a ghost town

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the decision to keep Brussels on lockdown was based on 'quite precise information about the risk of an attack like the one that happened in Paris'

Central Brussels, usually bustling on a Sunday evening, was virtually deserted, with police and troops on patrol.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the decision to keep Brussels on lockdown was based on 'quite precise information about the risk of an attack like the one that happened in Paris'.

He said the fear was that 'several individuals with arms and explosives could launch an attack, perhaps even in several places'.

Mr Michel added: 'We urge the public not to give in to panic, to stay calm. We have taken the measures that are necessary.'

Belgium's crisis centre, a body that advises the government on security measures, said the terror alert would remain at four in Brussels and three in the rest of the country, which means a threat is 'possible'.

Belgium's Interior Minister Jan Jambon said armed officers on the streets were looking for 'several suspects' including Abdeslam.

'It involves several suspects and that is why we have put in place such exceptional measures,' the Belga news agency quoted Jambon as telling Flemish television.

Belgian soldiers patrol on Brussels' Grand Place during the second day of the lockdown

Central Brussels, usually bustling on a Saturday evening, was virtually deserted, with police and troops on patrol

He added: 'We are following the situation minute by minute... There is a real threat but we are doing everything possible day and night to face up to this situation.'

He warned the capture of Abdeslam, the Belgian born terrorist who drove a three strong team of jihadis to four restaurants in Paris' Canal Saint Martin area, would not end the threat against his country.

Abdeslam is believed to have rented the two cars used by terrorists in the attacks. He then drove his brother Ibrahim and a French shooter to four restaurants in the Canal Saint Martin area of Paris where they murdered dozens of people.

Abdeslam's brother Mohamed today said he may have backed out of the Paris attacks but added: 'That is more than my hope, it is my conviction.

'He was a very intelligent man and I believe that at the very last moment he changed his mind and decided to take a different path.'

GREAT BRITAIN TENNIS TEAM DELAYS DEPARTURE TO BELGIUM FOR DAVIS CUP FINAL

The Great Britain tennis team have delayed their departure for next week's Davis Cup final in Belgium amid security concerns in Brussels.

The final is being held in the city of Ghent, 35 miles from Brussels, between November 27 and 29.

The Foreign Office has updated its guidance for travelling to Belgium, advising visitors not to go to places with large numbers of people.

More than 1,000 British fans are expected to support the team, which includes former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, as they take on Belgium in the sold out Flanders Expo centre.

The Great Britain tennis team (pictured) have delayed their departure for next week's Davis Cup final in Belgium amid security concerns in Brussels

More than 1,000 British fans are expected to support the team, which includes former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray (right) and his brother Jamie (left)

Any Murray said last week that he refuses to 'live in fear' of terrorism at the match up in Belgium next week.

But International Tennis Federation (ITF) president David Haggerty said he is 'greatly concerned' by the developments, and said safety remains the priority.

He added: 'We are aware that Belgium has raised the terror alert for Brussels. This greatly concerns us but, at the present time, we are still continuing with preparations.'

'I am totally convinced that my brothers were not radicalised but that they were manipulated,' he told Belgian broadcaster RTBF.

He again urged Abdeslam to give himself up, saying: 'That way he can give us the answers we seek, our family and the families of the victims. 'We would rather see Salah in prison than in the cemetery.'

Belgian officials met in the capital city today to decide whether to extend the drastic security measures which has turned Brussels into a ghost town.

The UN Security Council on granted countries permission to 'take all necessary measures' to fight ISIS extremists after a wave of attacks including the downing of a Russian aircraft in Egypt and the storming of a luxury hotel in Mali.

US President Barack Obama today confirmed he would visit Paris for UN climate talks in December despite the raised threat of violence, calling on world leaders to show similar resolve.

Belgian Army soldiers and policemen patrol near Christmas stalls in the centre of Brussels amid reports of an 'imminent' attack

Belgium's prime minister said 'several individuals with arms and explosives could launch an attack, perhaps even in several places'

Threat: Police on the streets are tasked with finding on the run Paris terrorist Salah Abdeslam and keeping locals safe from any other possible attacks

He said: 'I think it's absolutely vital for every country, every leader, to send a signal that the viciousness of a handful of killers does not stop the world from doing vital business.

'In addition to hunting down terrorists, in addition to effective intelligence, in addition to missile strikes and in addition to cutting off financing and all the other things that we're doing, the most powerful tool we have to fight ISIL is to say that we're not afraid.'

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Mali attack, in which six Russians died, 'confirms that terrorism knows no borders and is a real danger for the whole world'.

He added: 'It is only possible to confront this threat with the broadest international cooperation.'

Meanwhile a Turkish Airlines plane flying from New York to Istanbul with 256 people on board was diverted to Canada today because of a bomb threat, police said.

In Turkey, police arrested a Belgian of Moroccan origin in the resort of Antalya, the site of last week's G20 summit, along with two other suspects.

Abdeslam has been the subject of an international manhunt since the Paris attacks and 2,000 officers are said to have been assigned to find him. His friends have said he was in the Brussels area and trying to escape to Syria.

The UN Security Council on Friday authorised nations to 'take all necessary measures' to fight ISIS ahead of the Brussels (pictured) lockdown

Watchful eye: Belgium raised the alert status to its highest level, which means there is a 'serious and imminent' threat of an attack

Central Brussels, usually bustling on a Saturday evening, was virtually deserted, with police and troops on patrol

The Belgian government said it had concrete evidence of a planned terrorist attack that would have employed weapons and explosives

It emerged that Abdeslam had been stopped by police on the France-Belgium border after the attack but they let him through after he showed them his ID.

He may be wearing a suicide belt, said Hamza Attou, one of two suspects charged by Belgian authorities for allegedly helping him return to the country after the killings.

The mastermind of the attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a massive police raid on Wednesday.

The mayor of one of Brussels' many municipalities, Schaerbeek, told Belgian media that the capital is still facing a grave threat, according to the prime minister.

Bernard Clerfayt said: 'There are two terrorists in the Brussels region that could commit very dangerous acts.'

He said it was necessary to try to anticipate and prevent any such acts and their consequences, adding: 'As long as this threat is present, we must be very attentive.'