Reported Scheme to Target Belgian Prime Minister Thwarted
Belgium's police have taken into custody three suspects allegedly involved in conspiring to carry out an strike on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities described the reported plan as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the premier and additional politicians.
During investigations conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the prime minister's personal dwelling, officials discovered a potential improvised explosive device and evidence that the individuals were preparing to employ a drone.
While the intended targets of the attack were not publicly identified by the prosecutor's office, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot stated that the prime minister was included in the targets.
"Information of a premeditated strike aimed at Prime Minister Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the official declared in a post on online platforms on Thursday.
"It emphasizes that we are dealing with a very real terrorism risk and that we have to stay alert," he added.
The three people arrested on allegations of plotting a terrorist killing and involvement in the activities of a terrorist group all are based in Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were with years of birth in the early 2000s.
By Thursday evening, one of the individuals was let go, while the other suspects were undergoing questioning and likely to face a judge on the following day.
Federal prosecutors said that the suspects were detained after a magistrate directed raids of their homes in the city by law enforcement supported by bomb detection canines.
It was during these raids that they located a item which closely resembled a homemade bomb, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a news conference on the day of the events.
Raids also uncovered a collection of ball bearings and a 3D printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she added.
The official stated that there had been 80 extremist probes opened in the country so far this year - surpassing the overall count of investigations in last year.
Earlier this year, five people were found guilty for a 2023 plot to attack the prime minister while he was serving as Antwerp's mayor.