Anti-Terrorist Special Forces
© REUTERS/ Francois Lenoir
Special counterterror forces will be permanently deployed to guard nuclear power plants in Belgium, local media reported Thursday. In the past months, Belgian nuclear facilities have been guarded by a force of 140 army personnel.

According to the De Morgen newspaper, the government has decided to replace them with a special unit composed of federal police officers trained to intervene in case of a terrorist attack.

The counter terror unit, to be armed with semi-automatic weapons, should be ready for the deployment next year, the paper reported.

Security at Belgian NPPs is generally provided by unarmed personnel from private security firms. However, after the deadly March 22 attacks in Brussels, the government decided to increase security measures at the two plants with seven operating reactors, which could be targeted by terrorists, and send military personnel to help guard the NPPs.