Anti-terror operation underway at Brussels shopping centre after bomb alert

Brussels: An anti-terror operation was underway at a shopping centre in central Brussels on Tuesday, Belgian prosecutors told the Belga News agency, adding that one suspect had been arrested.

Prime Minister Charles Michel was holding an emergency meeting with members of his security cabinet, Belgian media reported.

The incident began at about 0430 GMT this morning (06:30am local time) after a report of a man acting suspiciously near the City 2 shopping centre triggered a bomb alert, broadcaster RTL reported.

A bomb squad team was deployed at the shopping centre, one of the main retail hubs of the Belgian capital.

Belgium is still reeling from the Islamic State suicide bombings at Brussels airport and on the city's metro on March 22 which killed 32 people and wounded hundreds more.

And the incident comes only days after Belgian authorities charged three men with "attempted terrorist murder" after raiding dozens of homes linked to a reported threat to fans during a Euro 2016 football game.