*Govt warns people against going to malls, crowded places

Brussels: Subway station shut

The Brussels underground metro and tram network was shut down on Saturday as a precaution, after the terror threat level for the Brussels region was increased to “maximum.”

Public transport operator STIB said it would not be running any underground services and all stations would be closed on recommendation from the interior ministry’s crisis cell.

The closure applies until at least the end of Saturday, and STIB said it would consult with police on a daily basis before reopening.

Earlier on Saturday, Belgium’s Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis increased the terror threat level for the Brussels region from three to a maximum four, warning of a “serious and imminent” risk of an attack.

Several big events in the Belgian capital have been canceled as a result, including a concert by the French rock star Johnny Hallyday, Le Soir newspaper reported.

The government also warned people to avoid crowded places, such as the mall.