No link between Greece arrests and Belgium militants: Belgian prosecutor

Belgian paratroopers keep guard outside a Jewish school in central city of Antwerp on Jan 17, 2015. The arrests of at least four people by Greek anti-terrorism police are not linked to a probe into a militant cell broken up this week in Belgium,
Belgian paratroopers keep guard outside a Jewish school in central city of Antwerp on Jan 17, 2015. The arrests of at least four people by Greek anti-terrorism police are not linked to a probe into a militant cell broken up this week in Belgium, the Belgian prosecutor’s office said on Sunday. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

ATHENS (AFP/Reuters) - Greece said it had found no evidence linking people they detained for questioning on Saturday to a foiled Islamist plot to attack the Belgian police.

Greek police detained over a half dozen people and were sending DNA samples to Belgian counterparts. Belgian state broadcasters said the authorities were seeking a Brussels man of Moroccan origin who was hiding in Greece. "We have not identified anyone related to the Belgian plot from the people we detained," a senior Greek police official told Reuters.

"There is no connection between these people and the enquiry" in Belgium, Mr Eric Van Der Sypt, spokesman for the federal prosecutor's office, said.

Greek anti-terrorism police said they were checking whether those arrested included Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the 27-year-old suspected mastermind of the Belgian cell.

On Thursday, police killed two gunmen during raids in the east Belgian town of Verviers. Thirteen suspects were arrested throughout the country and two others held in France on Belgium's request.

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