Alleged Plot to Strike Belgian Premier Thwarted
Belgian police have arrested three suspects suspected of planning an attack on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.
Federal prosecutors described the suspected plan as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the premier and other politicians.
During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, in proximity to the premier's private residence, authorities discovered a potential IED and indications that the individuals were planning to deploy a unmanned aerial vehicle.
While the intended targets of the strike were not publicly identified by the prosecutor's office, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot stated that the prime minister was included in the targets.
"The news of a premeditated assault aimed at PM Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the official declared in a message on online platforms on Thursday.
"It highlights that we are facing a serious terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.
The three individuals taken into custody on charges of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the operations of a terrorist group all are based in the city of Antwerp, per the federal prosecutors. They were born in the early 2000s.
As of Thursday evening, one of the individuals was freed, while two others were under interrogation and likely to be presented before a court on the following day.
Federal prosecutors revealed that the individuals were arrested after a judge ordered raids of their dwellings in the urban area by police officers assisted by explosives-trained dogs.
It was during these raids that they found a item which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", lead prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a news conference on that day.
Raids also found a "bag of steel balls" and a additive manufacturing device, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she continued.
The official disclosed that there had been 80 extremist probes initiated in Belgium so far this year - more than the overall count of investigations in 2024.
During the spring, five individuals were convicted for a scheme last year to attack De Wever while he was serving as the mayor of Antwerp.
