Counter-terrorist units foiled what was described as a jihadist plot to stage a major attack in eastern Belgium on Thursday evening, killing two gunmen and wounding another in a shootout in the town of Verviers near the German border.

The federal prosecutor, Eric Van Der Sypt, denied there was any link with last week’s attacks in Paris, but drew parallels with the Charlie Hebdo incident.

He said a terrorist outrage may only have been hours away: “This operation stopped a major terrorist attack from taking place. You could say a second potential Paris has been averted.”

All three gunmen, he said, were Belgian nationals. Police sources told Belgian television stations they had resolved to launch the pre-emptive operation against the terrorist suspects a fortnight ago after bugging the homes and cars of the men who were said to have recently returned from fighting in the war in Syria. The investigation concluded that a large-scale attack was imminent, targeting police stations.