A Belgian counter-terrorism squad thwarted a planned terrorist attack in that country today after they carried out a raid on a building in the eastern city of Verviers Belgian authorities announced.

Two of the suspected terrorists, who it is reported have extensive ties to ISIS, were killed in the raid, another gunman was injured in the firefight and was taken into custody.

The Belgian anti-terrorism squad had the group under surveillance for several weeks, and know that members of the cell traveled to Syria to meet with ISIS to plot an attack in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in Syria, said Belgian prosecution spokesman Thierry Werts. “This was in the framework of an operation looking into an operational cell made up of people, some of whom coming back from Syria,” Werts said. “The investigation made it possible to determine that the group was about to carry out major terrorist attacks in Belgium imminently.”

When the raid began, the suspects immediately took to their weapons and opened fire on the squad. The firefight lasted several minutes.

Belgian authorities say that dozens of similar operations are underway in other cities. Recently, European Security Services have been warning that ISIS has been directing fighters to travel back to their countries of origin to carry out attacks. Those officials are warning that France, Belgium, Germany and England are facing a particular threat from  the terror group.

The squad was spurred into action after they intercepted phone calls by the jihadists that led authorities to believe that attacks were imminent.

Belgian authorities are currently uncertain if the terrorist cells in Belgium had any connection with the terror attacks carried out in Paris last week. Belgium shares a 385-mile border with France.

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