Belgium Security Alert A False Alarm

A picture from Brussels released on social media. (The suspected bomb suspect is in the top left corner of the image)

A suspicious man who prompted an hours-long security alert and a partial lockdown in Brussels has been arrested, but police said it was a false alarm.

Police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere said they believe that the man was a student measuring radiation levels. He said no explosives were found on the man, who is being questioned by police.

The suspect had triggered alarm after he was seen wearing a heavy winter coat with wires hanging out.

A large police operation was launched in the city center in Brussels, where shops and streets were closed and residents evacuated.

Belgium has been under the second-highest terror threat level since November after Brussels was hit by two attacks on March 22 that killed 32 people.

Since the Bastille Day attack in the French resort city of Nice that left 84 people dead last week, security in Brussels has been beefed up for independence day celebrations on July 21.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP