Charlie Hebdo: Belgian PM orders security review
The alert level of the Belgian security services is not being stepped up at present as there are no elements to warrant this. The Belgian Intelligence and Security College has been convened. Any measures needed to safeguard the security of the people of Belgium and our institutions will be taken, government sources stress.
The Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon has said that there is no heightened threat level in Belgium as a result of the attack in neighbouring France, but that everything is ready if need be.
Speaking in Burundi Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said he was shocked by the attack: “It’s a barbarous attack at the heart of Europe.”
Mr Reynders wants to assess the risk for our country by an exchange of information with France.
Flemish Premier Geert Bourgeois stressed the need to preserve fundamental rights and liberties in our society, while Flemish socialist leader Bruno Tobback insisted we shouldn't allow ourselves to become scared.
Bart De Wever, the leader of the Flemish nationalist party N-VA, spoke of a dreadful, cowardly, murderous attack on freedom of expression. Flemish Christian democrat leader Wouter Beke said that this attack on press freedom was also an attack on the heart of every society: "It is dreadful."
Pol Deltour, the secretary of the Association of Flemish Journalists, says that the attack is particularly tragic.