Alleged Scheme to Strike Belgian Premier Foiled
Belgium's law enforcement have detained three suspects accused of planning an strike on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities described the suspected plot as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the PM and additional politicians.
During investigations conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, close to the PM's personal dwelling, authorities found a suspected IED and evidence that the individuals were preparing to deploy a UAV.
While the planned victims of the assault were not disclosed by name by the federal prosecutors, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot confirmed that Belgium's leader was one of them.
"Reports of a planned assault directed toward PM Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," the official declared in a message on social media on the day of the arrests.
"This underscores that we are dealing with a serious extremist danger and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.
The three people arrested on charges of plotting a terrorist killing and involvement in the operations of a jihadist network all are based in the city of Antwerp, according to the legal authorities. They were with years of birth in the early 2000s.
As of Thursday evening, one suspect was let go, while the other suspects were under interrogation and scheduled to appear in court on the following day.
Legal authorities stated that the suspects were detained after a magistrate ordered raids of their dwellings in the city by officials supported by bomb detection canines.
In the course of these investigations that they found a object which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", lead prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a media briefing on the day of the events.
Searches also found a collection of ball bearings and a 3D printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she noted.
Fransen said that there had been 80 extremist probes initiated in the country so far this year - surpassing the full amount of investigations in last year.
In April, five suspects were found guilty for a 2023 plot to target De Wever while he was acting as the mayor of Antwerp.
