17 of the men were serving soldiers, although seven have been released on bail again. The others are held on suspicion of terrorism, arms trafficing and racism. Military barracks and private houses were searched earlier this week. Police seized a large weapon arsenal. Those arrested are "soldiers and people with an extreme right ideology who clearly express themselves through racism, xenophobia, Holocaust denial, anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism," the federal prosecutor said. The weapons included a home-made bomb and fire arms. It is believed that they were trafficked rather than stolen from the army. The neo-Nazi cell has close ties with 'Blood and Honour', or are members of the organisation. The attacks could have been planned for major political institutions or for a xenophobic or anti-semitic attack. All the arrests were made in the Flanders region of Belgium, where the far right has increasingly gained approval. anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic sentiments in the major city of Antwerp have meant 30% election votes for the major far-right party.