Suspected Plot to Attack Belgian Premier Thwarted
Belgian law enforcement have arrested three individuals suspected of plotting an attack on the country's PM, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities characterized the alleged plan as a terrorist act motivated by jihadist ideology targeting the prime minister and additional government officials.
During investigations conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, in proximity to the PM's private residence, authorities discovered a suspected homemade bomb and proof that the individuals were planning to use a drone.
While the intended targets of the strike were not disclosed by name by the legal authorities, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot stated that de Wever was included in the targets.
"Information of a planned strike aimed at PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister declared in a update on X on the day of the arrests.
"This underscores that we are facing a genuine terrorism risk and that we have to remain vigilant," he concluded.
The three suspects taken into custody on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the activities of a jihadist network all reside in the city of Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
By late Thursday, one suspect was freed, while the remaining two were under interrogation and likely to appear in court on Friday.
The prosecution stated that the individuals were taken into custody after a magistrate ordered inspections of their dwellings in the urban area by law enforcement backed by bomb detection canines.
It was during these investigations that they located a item which appeared to be an IED, legal representative Ann Fransen announced at a press conference on Thursday.
Investigations also uncovered a container of metal spheres and a 3D printer, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she added.
Fransen said that there had been 80 terrorism investigations opened in the country this year - exceeding the overall count of investigations in last year.
Earlier this year, five suspects were found guilty for a previous year's plan to attack Belgium's leader while he was acting as the city's chief executive.
