Brussels: The Grand Mosque of Brussels, located close to the European Union headquarters, was evacuated on Thursday after an envelope with white powder was found inside, prompting firefighters to authorise an anthrax alert.

Pierre Meys, spokesman for the Brussels fire service, told EFE that the anthrax preventive procedure has been activated.

The spokesman explained that this procedure involves the evacuation and decontamination of people, with ambulances, laboratory specialists and civil protection teams sent to the area.