Just Because It's Trending Doesn't Mean It's True

Brussels Police Shot At (Possibly With AK-47) During House Search

  • by: Maarten Schenk
  • (Tue, 15 Mar 2016 14:27:41 Z)

STORY UPDATED: check for updates below.

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Belgian media are reporting that police came under fire during a house search in Vorst, a suburb of Brussels. One officer was hurt and a suspect is on the run. The raid was connected to the investigation into the Paris terror attacks a few months ago.

Updates:

: Final balance: one suspect dead, two fled, four policemen injured.

: Confirmation: one suspect killed.

: Source: one suspect 'neutralized':

: Reports of more gunfire, police assault going on.

: French police officers were present at the search, but none of them were hurt.

: Two separate shooting incidents: first police team wanted to execute a search warrant, was immediately fired on with automatic weapon, dozens of shots fired, suspects got away. Later on, police snipers arrived on the scene and more shots were heard.

: One of the three injured police officers reported to be seriously hurt.

: Reports are talking about two suspects holed up in an appartment. Saleh Abdeslam (wanted in connection with the Paris attacks) is not one of them.

: Snipers on rooftops, Belgian TV reports more shots heard.

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: Police are asking media to stop broadcasting live from the scene.

: Reports from the scene say one or two suspects are still holed up inside an appartment building according to the mayor of Forest.

: All live video feeds from the scene have apparently been shut down. We could see police approaching the cameras as someone said in french "I'm going to disconnect it."

:

:

: Civilians are being evacuated from the area on lockdown.

: Several schools inside the security perimeter are on lockdown.

:

: Latest reports: three officers injured.

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: Helicopter and armoured vehicles deployed to the scene:

: Security perimeter enlarged, government buildings reinforced:

:

: BBC ignores call from local police:

: Police ask not to tweet photos or video of the scene. Belgian Twitter user responds by tweeting sprouts:

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: Calls go out on social media to tweet cat pictures instead of info that might help the terror suspects.

: (reload this page if you don't see the live video stream)

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: Witnesses say a security perimeter has been established, unclear if suspects still inside.

: Suspects reportedly holed up in dental laboratory:

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: Unconfirmed:

: Special police units are on the scene.

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: Three police officers reported to be lightly injured.

: Update: a second suspect is reportedly also on the run.

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About the author:

Maarten Schenk is our resident expert on fake news and hoax websites. He likes to go beyond just debunking trending fake news stories and is endlessly fascinated by the dazzling variety of psychological and technical tricks used by the people and networks who intentionally spread made-up things on the internet.  He can often be found at conferences and events about fake news, disinformation and fact checking when he is not in his office in Belgium monitoring and tracking the latest fake article to go viral.

Read more about or contact Maarten Schenk