The information number 1771 set up by the Home Affairs SPF on Saturday has received more than 4,000 calls from citizens concerned about the raised terrorist threat level. The IPG call centre, set up by the Home Affairs Ministry, received 3,300 calls on Saturday. It received 700 more on Sunday, at 10h30.
On Saturday, the questions were mainly about the cancellations of events in Brussels. On Sunday, citizens were worried about what the situation will be on Monday, regarding employment, mobility and teaching.
The responses to these questions will depend on the reevaluation by the Organ for the Coordination of Threat Analysis, which will be unveiled on Sunday afternoon. “We have also received calls from panicking people who just wanted to talk”, the crisis centre spokesman said on Sunday, during a press visit to the IPG call-centre in Louvain.
The company currently employs 15 people in Louvain and 7 in Brussels. The 1771 line is in theory open from 8am to 8pm, but the hours are flexible depending on the demand. On Saturday, the telephone number will be open until 9pm.
To avoid the line being choked up, the crisis centre is asking citizens to check the website first (https://centrecrise.be/fr), and only call for practical questions.
(Source: Belga)
