Canada closes embassy in Brussels

The Canadian government is closing its embassy in Brussels until further notice and will only be providing emergency consular services.

The warning was sent out via Twitter with a link to the government’s travel advisory website, where it was indicated that while there is no nationwide advisory in effect for Belgium, travellers should exercise a high degree of caution “due to the current elevated threat of terrorism.

Brussels has been on the highest alert as of Nov 21, as authorities search for Salah Abdeslam, believed to have played a key role in the Nov. 13 attacks in France, and is known to have crossed into Belgium the day after the attacks.

According to the Toronto Star, Belgian police conducted 22 raids throughout Brussels and the surrounding countryside, which has resulted in 16 arrests but has not yet turned up Abdeslam.

While Brussels has been kept on the highest of four alert levels with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel citing a “serious and imminent” threat to the city, the rest of the country remains on a Level 3 alert, meaning an attack is “possible and likely.”