Alleged Plot to Target Belgian Premier Thwarted
Belgian authorities have detained three people allegedly involved in planning an strike on the nation's PM, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities characterized the reported scheme as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the PM and additional elected representatives.
During investigations conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, near the premier's private residence, officials uncovered a alleged homemade bomb and evidence that the individuals were intending to employ a drone.
While the prospective targets of the assault were not publicly identified by the federal prosecutors, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot revealed that the prime minister was included in the targets.
"Reports of a premeditated attack aimed at Premier Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister declared in a post on social media on the day of the arrests.
"This underscores that we are facing a very real terrorism risk and that we have to keep watchful," he continued.
The three suspects arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist killing and involvement in the activities of a jihadist network all live in the city of Antwerp, according to the legal authorities. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
On the evening of the arrests, one person was freed, while the other suspects were under interrogation and likely to face a judge on the next day.
The prosecution stated that the accused were arrested after a court official authorized searches of their homes in the urban area by law enforcement backed by explosive sniffer dogs.
In the course of these raids that they discovered a object which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", legal representative Ann Fransen announced at a media briefing on the day of the events.
Investigations also revealed a collection of ball bearings 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 country in the current year - exceeding the total number of instances in the previous year.
During the spring, five suspects were convicted for a previous year's plan to target De Wever while he was holding the position of Antwerp's mayor.
