Alleged Scheme to Strike Belgian PM Thwarted
Belgium's authorities have detained three suspects allegedly involved in plotting an strike on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors labeled the alleged scheme as a terrorist act motivated by jihadist ideology targeting the PM and fellow elected representatives.
During raids conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, close to the PM's home, authorities uncovered a alleged improvised explosive device and indications that the suspects were preparing to deploy a UAV.
While the prospective targets of the assault were not officially named by the federal prosecutors, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot stated that the prime minister was among them.
"Information of a planned strike directed toward PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," Prevot declared in a update on social media on the day of the arrests.
"It emphasizes that we are facing a very real terrorist threat and that we have to stay alert," he concluded.
The three individuals arrested on suspicion of plotting a terrorist killing and participation in the functions of a jihadist network all reside in the city of Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were born in three different years between 2001 and 2007.
On the evening of the arrests, one person was released, while two others were still being questioned and expected to be presented before a court on the next day.
The prosecution revealed that the suspects were taken into custody after a judge directed raids of their homes in the urban area by officials backed by explosive sniffer dogs.
Throughout these searches that they discovered a device which appeared to be an IED, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a media briefing on the day of the events.
Investigations also revealed a "bag of steel balls" and a three-dimensional printer, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she added.
The official stated that there had been 80 extremist probes initiated in Belgium so far this year - exceeding the full amount of instances in last year.
In April, five suspects were found guilty for a 2023 plot to attack the prime minister while he was holding the position of the city's chief executive.
