Terror threats and protests: the danger in this European country has risen

The US State Department raised the risk level for Belgium to Level 2 due to crime, terror threats, and protests. The guidelines include increased caution, avoiding crowds, and monitoring local media. The Israeli National Security Council also recommends that Israelis take enhanced precautions due to a rise in hostility and threats.

The US State Department updated its travel advisory for Belgium, raising the risk level to Level 2, which calls for travelers to exercise increased caution. The reasons include a rise in street crime, potential terror threats, and civil unrest. Petty crime, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, is common especially at major train stations and tourist sites. The advisory also emphasizes that marijuana and other drugs are illegal in Belgium. Additionally, past attacks are mentioned: the shooting in Brussels in 2023 that killed two Swedish citizens, and the coordinated attack in 2016 at the airport and a metro station that killed 32 people. The guidelines include avoiding demonstrations, monitoring local media, and preparing emergency plans. Meanwhile, the Israeli National Security Council classifies Belgium at Level 2 and recommends that Israelis take enhanced precautions due to a rise in hostility and threats against Israelis and Jews since the Swords of Iron war, including concealing Israeli identifiers and avoiding demonstrations.