Suspected Plot to Strike Belgian PM Prevented
Belgium's law enforcement have detained three people accused of plotting an strike on the nation's prime minister, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors characterized the suspected plot as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the prime minister and other elected representatives.
During investigations conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the PM's personal dwelling, authorities discovered a suspected homemade bomb and proof that the accused were preparing to employ a unmanned aerial vehicle.
While the intended targets of the assault were not officially named by the legal authorities, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot revealed that Belgium's leader was one of them.
"Reports of a planned assault aimed at Premier Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," the deputy prime minister declared in a post on social media on Thursday.
"This underscores that we are facing a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to stay alert," he continued.
The three individuals detained on suspicion of plotting a terrorist killing and engagement in the operations of a jihadist network all live in the city of Antwerp, as stated by the prosecutor's office. They were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
By Thursday evening, one suspect was released, while the remaining two were under interrogation and expected to appear in court on the following day.
Federal prosecutors said that the individuals were taken into custody after a court official authorized inspections of their residences in the city by law enforcement assisted by bomb detection canines.
Throughout these searches that they found a item which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", lead prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a news conference on the day of the events.
Raids also revealed a "bag of steel balls" and a additive manufacturing device, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she noted.
The prosecutor said that there had been 80 terrorism investigations launched in the nation in the current year - surpassing the full amount of cases in last year.
Earlier this year, five people were convicted for a 2023 plot to target De Wever while he was serving as the mayor of Antwerp.
