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Fresh arrests made over Brussels and Paris attacks

Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini was arrested in Brussels on Friday afternoon, sources have said
Belgium police conducts raids across the city in connection with the Brussels attacks in March 2016 (AFP)

Several key suspects, wanted either in connection with attacks in Brussels or Paris, were seized in Belgium on Friday following a string of raids.

Paris attacks suspect Mohamed Abrini was arrested, a police source told AFP. A Belgian television station said he was arrested in a Brussels suburb.

The police source gave no details about the location or circumstances of Abrini's arrest but VRT television said it took place in the Anderlecht district of Brussels, home to several other suspects linked to the Paris attacks. 

Mohamed Abrini (AFP)

In a separate incident, several arrests were also made in connection with the deadly Islamic State attacks on Brussels airport and the metro, the federal prosecutor's office said.

"The federal prosecutor confirms that there have been several arrests in the course of the day in connection with the attacks on the airport and metro," a statement said.

"For the moment, it is impossible to say more. Later, we will give more information in a statement or at a press conference," it added.

Belgian police searching for a third airport bomber known as the "man in the hat" seen with two suicide bombers at Brussels' Zaventem airport on 22 March.

The man left a bag containing a bomb at the airport before walking out of the terminal.

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