Reported Plan to Attack Belgian PM Prevented
Belgian law enforcement have arrested three individuals allegedly involved in plotting an strike on the nation's prime minister, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors described the reported scheme as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and other politicians.
During searches conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, in proximity to the PM's personal dwelling, officials uncovered a potential improvised explosive device and proof that the suspects were preparing to employ a UAV.
While the planned victims of the strike were not officially named by the federal prosecutors, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed that Belgium's leader was one of them.
"Information of a intended assault targeting PM Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the deputy prime minister wrote in a post on online platforms on Thursday.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a very real extremist danger and that we have to remain vigilant," he concluded.
The three individuals arrested on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the functions of a jihadist network all live in the Antwerp region, as stated by the federal prosecutors. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
On Thursday evening, one suspect was released, while the other suspects were under interrogation and expected to appear in court on the following day.
The prosecution stated that the accused were detained after a judge directed inspections of their homes in the location by officials assisted by explosives-trained dogs.
Throughout these searches that they found a object which appeared to be an IED, federal prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a press conference on Thursday.
Investigations also revealed a collection of ball bearings and a 3D printer, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she noted.
The prosecutor said that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases initiated in the country this year - exceeding the total number of cases in the previous year.
During the spring, five people were sentenced for a previous year's plan to strike Belgium's leader while he was serving as Antwerp's mayor.
