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US embassy evacuated

September 5, 2012

The US embassy in Brussels has been evacuated after Belgian police discovered suspicious vehicles parked nearby. Authorities have evacuated other buildings and have blocked off some streets until further notice.

https://p.dw.com/p/163tU
Police outside of the US embassy in Brussels
Image: Getty Images

A bomb scare led to the evacuation of the US embassy and several buildings in downtown Brussels early Wednesday afternoon, according to the news agency Belga. The Belgian police reportedly found gas bottles in a vehicle parked near the US embassy. However, a ministry spokesperson said the police were investigating two cars.

"As far as I know there are two suspect vehicles, one close to the American embassy and one close to the Belgian Defence Ministry," ministry spokesman Didier De Weerdt said.

A bomb squad was deployed to the scene.

Belgian authorities cordoned off the area and ordered police to block off streets in the downtown area until further notice.

kms/jr (dpa, Reuters, AFP)