The Belgian terrorists neutralized in a police raid in Verviers on Thursday had been planning to hijack a passenger bus and take hostages, according to local broadcaster RTL.

Two suspected jihadists were killed during the police operation and another one was seriously injured, according to reports of The Telegraph.

The two gunmen were killed in a shootout after opening fire on the police, while the wounded suspect was arrested.

The group had allegedly been planning to launch a major terrorist attack.

The terror suspects were reported to have recently returned from Syria.

Belgium raised its terror alert to its second-highest level.

Eric Van Der Sypt from the federal prosecutor's office informed that the investigation had been launched a few weeks ago, prior to the deadly attacks in Paris.

He said that no link had been established so far to the last week’s terror attacks in Paris.

Van der Sypt also said that all three terror suspects were Belgian nationals.