Belgian police find no explosives after man claims to be carrying device in car

Latest: A bomb squad has found no explosives after a man who claimed to be carrying a device in his car in Brussels was stopped by police.

Belgian police find no explosives after man claims to be carrying device in car

Update 8.45pm: A bomb squad has found no explosives after a man who claimed to be carrying a device in his car in Brussels was stopped by police.

Prosecutors say the suspect - who is from Rwanda - was detained following a police chase.

It happened in the Molenbeek area - which was home to the Islamic State members who attacked Paris in November 2015.

Earlier: Brussels police have opened fire on a car after a high-speed chase in the suburb of Molenbeek and the driver has told officers there are explosives inside the vehicle.

Brussels prosecutor’s spokeswoman Ine Van Wymersch told The Associated Press that police fired once at the car, which was involved in two collisions during the chase.

Ms Van Wymersch said: "When they got the person out, he immediately claimed that there were explosives inside."

She said the man was alone and no one has been injured.

Army bomb disposal experts have been called in and police have sealed off the area, locking a number of people in nearby shops as a precaution, Ms Van Wymersch said.

Brussels police spokeswoman Dorothee Cattrysse said 400 to 500 people were being kept in the stores.

Brussels has been on high alert since 32 people were killed in 2016 suicide attacks. Many suspects linked to those attacks and the November 2015 massacre in Paris lived in or transited through Molenbeek.

More as we get it ...

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