Belgian authorities arrest man over several hoax bomb alerts

BRUSSELS – Belgian authorities say they have arrested a man over several hoax bomb calls that sparked major security alerts and the evacuation of key buildings.

The royal prosecutor’s office said Thursday that the man, identified as H.G. born in 1998, is charged with being “the author or co-author of false information about a terrorist attack.”

The hoaxes forced the evacuation of the main Brussels justice facilities and a railway station, but also a station in Charleroi and an airport in Gosselies.

The man was tracked down through his Facebook account.

Prosecutors say hoax callers face up to two years in jail.

Belgian security services have been on high alert since suicide bombers attacked the Brussels airport and subway last March, killing 32 people.