Brussels schools and metro reopen despite terror alert

Brussels struggled to return to normal on Nov. 25 after four days on maximum terror alert, with schools and the metro reopening despite suspects from the Paris attacks still being at large.

Troops and police were still patrolling the streets of the Belgian capital and the alert status remained at the highest possible level of four on Nov. 24, as schools and metro opened though leading to questions about what had changed since schools had closed on Nov. 23.

"It's not very reassuring, is it?" said Sarah, who runs a private nursery in Brussels. "If it wasn't safe to open on Monday and Tuesday, why is it now?"

The Brussels metro system had been closed since Nov. 21 and gradually returned to service, but with many stops still shut to better deploy security staff.

About 300 extra police from other cities in Belgium were sent to Brussels to guard schools and 200 extra soldiers helped patrol the metro.

Public museums, concert halls and cinemas complexes also returned to normal.

Hospitals were also put on a special alert, with Belgian officials worried attackers could specifically target emergency rooms and ambulances.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel on Nov. 23 extended the maximum threat level by at least a week, but took the decision to reopen the schools on Nov. 25.

Belgium on Nov. 24 issued an international arrest warrant for a "dangerous" man, Mohamed Abrini, who was seen driving a car with key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam. Abdeslam is also at large.

The police on Nov. 24 also charged a fifth suspect in connection with the Paris attacks.

A day before Belgium started to return to normal, France and the United States pledged to step up the fight against the Islamic State...