Two killed in anti-terrorist operation in Belgium

Brussels, Jan 16: Two people have been killed in an anti-terrorism operation in the east Belgian town of Verviers on Thursday.

A third person was injured in a raid on a house where jihadi sympathisers were suspected to be residing, Xinhua reported citing the Mayor's office source.

All three had allegedly returned recently to Belgium from Syria. Witnesses have said that gunfire and explosions were heard at the scene of the raid in the centre of the town.

A witness told La Libre Belgique newspaper that, "I heard two explosions. I left and saw two young men run. They were 25 to 30 years, looked Arabic and were dressed in black and wore a hat. They walked towards the Pakistani and Afghan district."

The raid comes a week after the major terrorist incidents in Paris.

The operation was mainly directed at those who have recently returned to the country from Syria.

IANS