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Two suspected jihadists have been killed in an anti-terror operation in eastern Belgium, the BBC reported, citing officials.

A third person had been arrested in the raid in Verviers and weapons are reported to have been recovered.

Prosecutor Eric Van Der Sypt told reporters police had targeted a group returning from Syria who had been about to launch attacks in a matter of hours.

Suspects had opened fire on police, he said. There were also overnight searches in the Brussels area.

Speaking after Thursday's raids in Verviers, Mr Van Der Sypt said: "The suspects immediately and for several minutes opened fire with military weaponry and handguns on the special units of the federal police before they were neutralised."

After the raid, four Kalashnikovs, bomb-making equipment and police clothing were found, according to local media. Security forces remain in the Verviers area.

Anti-terror raids also took place late on Thursday in Brussels and surrounding towns, including Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, Anderlecht and Schaerbeek.

Earlier on Thursday two suspected Islamists were arrested in the Brussels suburb of Zaventem, local media reported.

Belgian officials say more than 300 people have left Belgium to fight with Islamic militant groups in Syria and Iraq.