The Belgian authorities have charged three Chechnya natives with financing and preparing a terrorist attack in the kingdom. The suspects are allegedly linked to Wilayat Khorasan, an Afghan cell of the terrorist group Islamic State (IS), the Belgian prosecutor's office reported on Friday, July 26.

The Chechens were detained during a large-scale anti-terrorist operation, which was carried out simultaneously at 14 addresses in nine Belgian cities, including Antwerp, Ghent and Liege. According to the prosecutor's office, seven people were arrested during the searches, with four being released after questioning. Details about the potential target of the terrorist attack have not been disclosed.

Earlier, the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Germany reported the detention of two Russian citizens on suspicion of supporting IS. According to law enforcement officials, the men were members of an organization that was raising funds for this terrorist group in Germany and other European countries.