Alleged Scheme to Attack Belgian Premier Prevented
Belgium's authorities have taken into custody three suspects allegedly involved in conspiring to carry out an attack on the country's premier, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors described the suspected plot as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the premier and other politicians.
During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, in proximity to the PM's personal dwelling, officials discovered a potential IED and evidence that the accused were intending to use a UAV.
While the intended targets of the attack were not disclosed by name by the prosecutor's office, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed that de Wever was among them.
"Reports of a intended attack directed toward Premier Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the official declared in a message on X on the day of the arrests.
"This underscores that we are facing a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.
The three people arrested on charges of attempted terrorist murder and involvement in the activities of a jihadist network all reside in the city of Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
By late Thursday, one suspect was freed, while the other suspects were under interrogation and scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Federal prosecutors revealed that the accused were detained after a court official authorized inspections of their residences in the city by police officers supported by explosives-trained dogs.
In the course of these raids that they located a object which closely resembled a homemade bomb, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference on Thursday.
Raids also found a collection of ball bearings and a three-dimensional printer, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she noted.
The official said that there had been 80 terrorism investigations launched in Belgium in the current year - more than the total number of investigations in the previous year.
Earlier this year, five suspects were found guilty for a scheme last year to target De Wever while he was serving as Antwerp's mayor.
