[EARLIER REPORTS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

2:42PM EST: Police carried out the operation as they believed the group was about to launch terrorist attacks “on a grand scale”, according to prosecutors.

They said suspects opened fire on police before being killed in the raid in the town of Verviers and no officers were hurt.

Explosions and gunfire were apparently heard near the train station, according to Belgium’s public broadcaster RTBF.

2:30PM EST: Belgian authorities say two people have been killed and one has been arrested during a shootout in an anti-terrorist operation in the eastern city of Verviers.

Magistrate Eric Van der Sypt told reporters in Brussels on Thursday that the suspects were on the verge of committing a major terrorist attack, and that they immediately opened fire on security forces.

He said at emergency news conference that anti-terrorist raids are under way in the Brussels region and Verviers. He said Belgium’s terror alert level was raised to its second highest level.

The raid was part of an investigation into extremists returning from Syria.

12:33PM EST: According to initial reports, 3 people have been killed during a police raid in the Belgian city of Vervies against an alleged terrorist group cell.

Sky News reported the following:

Federal prosecutors were quoted as saying there had been a police operation near the centre of Verviers.

The Belga news agency said there were several casualties and said police activity was continuing.

DEVELOPING STORY

Photo of the police raid in Vervies, Belgium during a police assault on a terror cell where 3 people died pic.twitter.com/6H4pKnzXtD

— News_Executive (@News_Executive) January 15, 2015

#Terror attack in #Belgium: -3 dead -several ppl in custody -shooting and explosions (RTBF)

— Breaking 3.0 U.S. (@Breaking3zeroUS) January 15, 2015

BREAKING: At least 3 dead in anti-terror operation in #Verviers #Belgium http://t.co/V50UYrLfRe pic.twitter.com/LOJfOhnEeB

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 15, 2015