The threat against secondary schools communicated by the national crisis centre is "not credible" and "unlikely" says the OCAD, the government body that analyses the threat level in Belgium. That threat was mainly made against schools in French-speaking Belgium, according to the crisis centre. Flemish schoolchildren and pupils at Dutch-medium schools in Brussels are currently enjoying a two-week Easter break. Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts (nationalist/N-VA) is unhappy about what he calls 'confusing communication' this morning.
Threat against secondary schools "not credible" says terrorism watchdog OCAD
Colin Clapson
Published:
Since a murderous attack on Swedish soccer fans in Brussels on 16 October last year, Belgium has been on threat level 3, meaning the threat is "serious" and terrorist acts are "possible and likely". After the new "potential threat" to schools for now the threat level is not be raised.
"A potential threat has been expressed against several secondary schools," Laura Demullier of the national crisis centre said. "It mainly concerns secondary schools in French-speaking Belgium. In Dutch-speaking Belgium the Easter holidays are still underway."
"We have taken extra preventive measures. For instance, we are asking everyone to be extra vigilant and are requesting people report anything suspicious." An investigation has also been launched "into the nature of the threat".
OCAD: "It’s not a credible threat"
According to the OCAD, the government body that keeps tabs on the terrorist threat, this threat is "not credible". Based on the available information, the OCAD says that the threat e-mail received by several schools is not credible. As a result OCAD says it considers this threat unlikely.
The OCAD stresses that the general threat level for Belgium remains at level 3. "The OCAD asks people to remain attentive and vigilant and to observe the necessary preventive security measures. OCAD, together with its partners, continues to monitor the situation closely."
In the French-speaking education sector, the schoolyear continues. Schools can decide for themselves on any additional measures, such as the temporary cancelling of classes. At the moment it is not clear whether any schools will effectively do so.
Minister Weyts is hoping for reassurance from the national crisis centre
Flemish Education Minister Ben Weyts (nationalist/N-VA) is unhappy with what he calls the 'confusing communication' this morning. "It was through the media that we had to learn that there was a threat and now we learn - again through the media - that the OCAD does not find this threat credible," he told the VRT.
"It evokes needless unrest among pupils, teachers and parents," the minister continued. "I therefore advocate caution with such communications. So I hope that a reassuring message can come from the crisis centre soon."