Belgian soccer player Radja Nainggolan mistaken for terrorist

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Report: Belgian international Radja Nainggolan mistaken for terrorist - Hotel guests called police after mistaking Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan for a potential terrorist, Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure reports.

Nainggolan was in Belgium for the national team’s friendly against Spain but the match was postponed due to terrorist threats in the wake of the Paris attacks. He then returned to his home city of Antwerp on Tuesday night, where guests at a Radisson hotel called the police.

“Apparently, I have a scary look,” Nainggolan told the paper. “Fortunately the police recognized me immediately.”

After the mix-up was resolved, Nainggolan posed for a photo with the officers.

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Naoufal Attar @_Naoufal

@RadissonBlu people called the police because @OfficialRadja was acting suspicious

6:58 AM - 18 Nov 2015

 
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Police in Belgium had been searching the country for suspects in the Paris attacks, particularly in areas in and around Brussels.

Nainggolan, who also plays for Roma, has since returned to Italy for his club’s game against Bologna on Saturday.