Belgian Police Arrest New Suspect in Connection with Brussels Attacks

A man has been arrested by police in Brussels in connection with recent terror attacks in the city, Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported on Friday.

The suspect, carrying a backpack, was shot and wounded in Schaerbeek suburb of the Belgian capital after refusing to obey police orders. Blasts were also heard during the anti-terror operation.

AFP quoted a French police source as saying that the operation in Schaerbeek was related to the arrest of French citizen Reda Kriket in Paris late on Thursday.

Heavy weapons and explosives were discovered at Kriket's apartment.

'He was part of a terrorist network that planned to strike France,' French media quoted French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve as saying.

Friday's raid in Schaerbeek follows seven arrests made in a series of overnight raids by Belgian police as part of ongoing investigations into Tuesday's attacks in Brussels. Two more suspects were arrested in Germany.

Suicide bombers killed at least 31 people and wounded nearly 300 at Brussels international airport and Maelbeek metro station on Tuesday.

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.