Suspected Scheme to Strike Belgian PM Prevented
Belgian authorities have detained three people allegedly involved in conspiring to carry out an attack on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors characterized the alleged plan as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the premier and other politicians.
During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, in proximity to the prime minister's personal dwelling, officials found a potential homemade bomb and proof that the accused were intending to use a UAV.
While the prospective targets of the strike were not disclosed by name by the prosecutor's office, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed that the prime minister was among them.
"Reports of a intended attack targeting PM Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," Prevot stated in a post on X on Thursday.
"It emphasizes that we are facing a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.
The three people taken into custody on charges of attempted terrorist murder and engagement in the functions of a extremist organization all reside in the Antwerp region, according to the prosecutor's office. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
As of late Thursday, one person was let go, while two others were undergoing questioning and scheduled to face a judge on Friday.
The prosecution said that the suspects were arrested after a judge authorized searches of their homes in the city by law enforcement assisted by explosive sniffer dogs.
Throughout these raids that they discovered a item which closely resembled a homemade bomb, federal prosecutor Ann Fransen stated at a news conference on Thursday.
Searches also revealed a container of metal spheres and a 3D printer, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she noted.
The prosecutor disclosed that there had been 80 extremist probes launched in the nation so far this year - exceeding the full amount of instances in last year.
In April, five people were convicted for a scheme last year to attack Belgium's leader while he was acting as the city's chief executive.
