‘Second Paris’ averted by hours: Belgian police HQ under armed guard after two suspected ISIS jihadists are killed as commandos swoop on cell before imminent attack on local station 

• Men targeted were under surveillance and suspected of planning attacks after returning from Syria last week
• Residents heard shots and explosions, including machine gun fire, as masked officers swooped on the apartment 
• Islamic State video published yesterday called for lone-wolf attacks in Europe, saying 'Kill all the infidels'
• Comes after investigators said they were probing arms dealer who sold guns to deli killer Amedy Coulibaly

By DAMIEN GAYLE FOR MAILONLINE and DAVID WILLIAMS, CHIEF REPORTER FOR THE DAILY MAIL and PETER ALLEN and ASSOCIATED PRESS and REUTERS

PUBLISHED: 18:00 GMT, 15 January 2015 | UPDATED: 01:35 GMT, 16 January 2015

Belgium's police HQ was last night under armed guard after anti-terror commandos shot dead two suspected Islamic State jihadis in an eastern town.

Shots and explosions were heard, including machine gun fire, as heavily armed, masked officers moved against the alleged cell in the eastern town of Verviers, which is some 70 miles from Brussels.

‘A second Paris has been avoided,’ an official from Belgium’s ministry of justice was quoted as saying, with reports claiming the jihadis had planned to launch attacks on police in the country.

It comes after an Islamic State video published yesterday showed French-speaking fighters telling Muslims in Europe: 'If you see a police officer in the street, kill him. Kill them all. Kill all the infidels you see on the street.'

Dailymail