Belgian police detained a man who was believed to be carrying explosives near a central Brussels shopping center early on Tuesday, prompting a meeting of the prime minister and the national crisis response center.
A security source later said no bombs were found on the suspect.
The area around the City2 Shopping Mall, a major commercial hub in the middle of the Belgian capital, was sealed off, although the nearby metro station was still open.
A spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor's office said the man was arrested at 5:30 a.m. and the army bomb disposal team was brought in to verify whether he was armed with explosives.
Television footage showed a large police presence in neighboring streets.
Belgium's crisis center, which coordinates security measures, said it held a meeting with Prime Minister Charles Michel and Interior Minister Jan Jambon to discuss the incident.