France boosts ISIS fight; 21 held in Brussels

France launched military missions over ISIS areas in Syria and Iraq on Monday from a newly-deployed aircraft carrier as Brussels was locked down for a third day amid fears of a repeat of the Paris terror attacks.

The police in Brussels arrested five more people on Monday after picking up 16 in raids late on Sunday, but Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam remained at large. Schools, public buildings and the metro were closed, with armed police personnel and the military out in force on quiet streets.

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel warned late Sunday as he extended the security alert that the city faced a “serious and imminent” threat of attacks similar to those claimed by ISIS which left 130 people dead across Paris.

Top-line French Rafale jets loaded with bombs were catapulted from the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle — a 42,500-tonne nuclear-powered carrier — on Monday.

“We will intensify our strikes, choosing targets that will do the most damage possible to this army of terrorists,” French President Francois Hollande said.

The web of fear from the Paris attacks has spread across Europe, especially to Belgium where some of the assailants had lived before the violence.

Belgian prosecutors said the police had arrested another five people in fresh raids Monday, bringing to 21 the number held since Sunday.

Abdeslam, Europe’s most wanted for his alleged role in the attacks, is believed to still be on the run after officials said he was not among those arrested. Abdeslam’s elder brother Brahim blew himself up outside a Paris bar in the November 13 attacks.

Interior minister Jan Jambon told Belgian media: “The operation is not finished. We will continue until we clean up this mess.”

With residents struggling to get to work by bus and bike, Mr Jambon conceded the level four security alert had clear costs and was disruptive but warned it must “continue as long as necessary”.

“Yes there are consequences; but if there was an attack like in Paris, think what would be the consequences of that!”

Officials were due to complete a fresh threat assessment later on Monday.

In Brussels, people were trying to go about their daily lives despite the closure of all schools, universities and nurseries.

“I hope it’s just for today, and that tomorrow will be calm,” said Tatiana, a young mother whose eight-year-old son Oleg’s scholl was closed.

In the normally bustling historic Grande Place, a few bars and restaurants were open for business but it was hard going to get customers.

The rest of the country, including Brussels airport, remains on security alert level three, meaning an attack is considered possible and the threat credible.

“If I look over the past two decades at counter-terrorism actions here in Belgium, we have never seen such a scale of deployment as demonstrated last night,” Pieter Van Ostaeyen, an analyst on Islamic extremism, said.