Belgian cops’ search for Abdeslam still on

Some 22 raids were carried out Sunday across Brussels and Charleroi, the federal prosecutor’s spokesman said. Brussels remains on the highest level of terror alert. Universities, schools and the metro system remained closed on Monday. However, the main target of the clampdown, Salah Abdeslam, suspected to be one of the gunmen in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks, was not among those arrested, officials said.

Brussels on Sunday saw raids and a show of force not normally seen in a city known more for its eclectic visitors. Media sources said what had been mostly low-key precautions quickly turned into a highly visible and often jittery military-style operation. The operation, the biggest in the Belgian capital since the Paris attack, took place after Brussels officials said there was ‘imminent threat of multiple attacks’.

More than 130 died and 350 were injured in the Paris attacks 10 days ago, an attack for which IS claimed responsibility. Police in France, Belgium and other European countries have been trying to trace those who helped the attackers and have mounted raids at many places.

No weapons or explosives were found during the searches on Sunday, spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt told a news conference.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Paris for talks with French President Francois Hollande, where he said the two leaders had agreed to step up co-operation on countering international terrorism, including increased data-sharing and sharing of airline records. “I firmly support the decisive action taken by President Hollande to strike IS in Syria, it is my firm belief that we should do so too,” Mr Cameron said in a statement.

Mr Hollande said France planned to intensify its air strikes on IS targets in Syria. “We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists,” Mr Hollande said.

The French president kicks off a week of diplomatic efforts to rally support to crush the group. He will meet US President Barack Obama on Tuesday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

Earlier, Mr Hollande and Mr Cameron visited the Bataclan concert hall, where at least 89 people were killed.