Suspected Scheme to Attack Belgian PM Thwarted
Belgium's police have detained three individuals allegedly involved in plotting an attack on the government's PM, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors labeled the suspected plot as a terrorist act motivated by jihadist ideology targeting the prime minister and fellow politicians.
During searches conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, near the prime minister's private residence, authorities uncovered a alleged homemade bomb and proof that the individuals were preparing to deploy a UAV.
While the planned victims of the attack were not disclosed by name by the legal authorities, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot stated that de Wever was one of them.
"Information of a planned strike aimed at Prime Minister Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," the deputy prime minister declared in a update on social media on Thursday.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a genuine extremist danger and that we have to remain vigilant," he concluded.
The three suspects detained on charges of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the functions of a extremist organization all are based in Antwerp, according to the prosecutor's office. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
As of Thursday evening, one of the individuals was freed, while the remaining two were still being questioned and expected to face a judge on Friday.
The prosecution revealed that the individuals were detained after a magistrate ordered searches of their residences in the city by officials assisted by explosives-trained dogs.
In the course of these investigations that they found a item which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", federal prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a news conference on Thursday.
Investigations also uncovered a container of metal spheres 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 the nation so far this year - surpassing the full amount of investigations in 2024.
Earlier this year, five individuals were found guilty for a previous year's plan to strike the prime minister while he was holding the position of the mayor of Antwerp.
