Suspected Plot to Strike Belgian PM Prevented
Belgium's law enforcement have taken into custody three suspects suspected of planning an attack on the nation's prime minister, Bart de Wever.
Federal prosecutors described the alleged scheme as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the PM and fellow government officials.
During raids conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, in proximity to the premier's home, officials uncovered a potential homemade bomb and indications that the accused were planning to use a UAV.
While the prospective targets of the assault were not publicly identified by the prosecutor's office, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot revealed that Belgium's leader was among them.
"The news of a premeditated strike aimed at PM Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," the deputy prime minister wrote in a update on X on Thursday.
"This underscores that we are dealing with a very real extremist danger and that we have to stay alert," he added.
The three people arrested on charges of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group all live in Antwerp, according to the legal authorities. They were born in three different years between 2001 and 2007.
As of late Thursday, one of the individuals was freed, while the other suspects were under interrogation and scheduled to face a judge on the following day.
The prosecution stated that the individuals were taken into custody after a court official ordered searches of their homes in the location by officials assisted by explosive sniffer dogs.
It was during these investigations that they discovered a item which closely resembled a homemade bomb, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a press conference on that day.
Investigations also uncovered a "bag of steel balls" and a 3D printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she noted.
The official said that there had been 80 terrorism investigations opened in the country this year - more than the full amount of investigations in 2024.
Earlier this year, five individuals were convicted for a 2023 plot to strike De Wever while he was holding the position of the city's chief executive.
