Four people arrested as part of inquiry into Gulf state buying EU influence

European parliament officials would neither confirm nor deny if the parliament’s premises had been searched. Photograph: Jean-François Badias/AP

Four people have been arrested as part of an investigation into corruption and money laundering centred on a Gulf state’s attempt to buy influence at the European parliament, Belgian prosecutors have said.

Belgian police seized €600,000 (£515,000) in cash, computers and mobile phones after searches at 16 properties across Brussels on Friday morning, according to a statement from Belgium’s federal prosecutor. It said the searches were part of a major investigation into alleged criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering.