Suspected Scheme to Strike Belgian Prime Minister Foiled
Belgian police have taken into custody three suspects allegedly involved in plotting an attack on the nation's PM, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities described the suspected plot as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the PM and fellow government officials.
During investigations conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, in proximity to the premier's personal dwelling, investigators found a alleged homemade bomb and evidence that the suspects were preparing to deploy a unmanned aerial vehicle.
While the intended targets of the attack were not disclosed by name by the federal prosecutors, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot confirmed that de Wever was included in the targets.
"Reports of a intended assault targeting Prime Minister Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," Prevot stated in a update on online platforms on the investigation day.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a very real extremist danger and that we have to stay alert," he added.
The three individuals taken into custody on charges of plotting a terrorist killing and participation in the activities of a terrorist group all reside in the city of Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were had birth years in the early 2000s.
By Thursday evening, one of the individuals was released, while two others were still being questioned and scheduled to face a judge on the following day.
Federal prosecutors stated that the individuals were arrested after a judge ordered raids of their residences in the urban area by officials assisted by explosive sniffer dogs.
Throughout these raids that they discovered a object which closely resembled a homemade bomb, federal prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference on the day of the events.
Investigations also uncovered a collection of ball bearings and a 3D printer, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she continued.
The prosecutor disclosed that there had been 80 extremist probes opened in the nation this year - surpassing the total number of cases in last year.
Earlier this year, five people were convicted for a scheme last year to target Belgium's leader while he was holding the position of Antwerp's mayor.
