On Tuesday evening György Bakondi, Chief Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, told Hungarian television channel M1 that the terrorist cell linked to the Brussels attacks has been eradicated, and thus there is no further justification for Hungary retaining its terror alert at Level 2.
When asked about the fact that the Minister of Interior had modified the Hungarian level of terror alert, Mr. Bakondi said that there has been a broad ongoing investigation into the Brussels attacks; this is not just in Belgium, but in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy, where individuals related to the attacks have been caught.
As a result, police forces – in cooperation with secret service agencies – have succeeded in eradicating the terrorist cell assumed to be linked to both the Paris and Brussels attacks. He added that the members of the group have either been caught or shot during gunfights.
He said that it is clear how this cell was organised, who its central members were, what kind of information and logistics assisted them, and how certain terrorists had arrived in Europe. Thus maintaining the terror alert at Level 2 was no longer warranted.
Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér reduced the level of terror alert in Hungary: as of 1 PM Tuesday, terror alert Level 3 (intermediate) is in place.
Last Tuesday morning, terrorist attacks were committed in Brussels at Zaventem international airport and Maelbeek metro station. Recent information indicates that in the attacks at least 35 people were killed and some 340 were injured – including two Hungarian citizens. The terrorist organisation Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Prior to the Brussels attacks, terror alert Level 3 was in place in Hungary, due to the mass migration crisis; this was increased to Level 2 last Tuesday.