Christmas markets are potential targets of terrorist attacks, and that threat is real in Belgium, authorities say.

The Belgian crisis centre (Le Center de Crise) has sent a notice to police stations, urging them to pay special attention to major events and markets at the end of the year, Le Soir writes. The alert went out because Christmas fairs have characteristics which make them easy targets for acts of terrorism.

Menace terroriste: le Centre de crise rappelle que les marchés de Noël restent des cibles potentielles https://t.co/QAvwB5HimR pic.twitter.com/GssRkFNgl7

— Le Soir (@lesoir) December 7, 2021

Ocam, a local threat analysis organisation, currently has knowledge of 712 dangerous people, including 100 potentially violent and extremist individuals.