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BRUSSELS (AP) — Belgium authorities have tightened security in the port city of Antwerp. This, after a Frenchman drove his car at high speed through a busy shopping area, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way.
France's president is comparing the incident to yesterday's attack in London, saying the driver was "trying to kill people or create a dramatic event."
The federal prosecutor's office in Brussels says the car was intercepted late this morning at the port docks. Police arrested a man, identified only as Mohamed R., who had been living in France.
In the car, authorities said they found knives, a shotgun and a gas can with an unknown liquid.
There were no immediate reports of injuries.
At first sight, the incident appeared to have the hallmarks of several extremist attacks in Europe — a vehicle in a busy area bent on mowing down pedestrians.
Authorities say because of those elements -- and in the aftermath of the London attack -- the case is being handled by the federal prosecutor's office, which usually deals with extremist attacks.
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APPHOTO GVW105: A soldier patrols on Meir shopping street in Antwerp, Belgium on Thursday, March 23, 2017. Belgian authorities have raised security in the port of Antwerp after a car with French license plates drove at high speed through busy Meir street, forcing pedestrians to jump out of the way. The federal prosecutor's office said the car was intercepted late Thursday morning at the port docks and a Frenchman living in France was arrested. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert) (23 Mar 2017)
<<APPHOTO GVW105 (03/23/17)££
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