Alleged Plot to Strike Belgian Prime Minister Prevented
Belgium's law enforcement have detained three people accused of plotting an attack on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever.
Federal prosecutors characterized the reported plan as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and additional elected representatives.
During raids conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the PM's private residence, investigators uncovered a suspected IED and evidence that the suspects were preparing to deploy a UAV.
While the prospective targets of the assault were not publicly identified by the federal prosecutors, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot revealed that the prime minister was among them.
"The news of a intended assault aimed at PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister stated in a message on online platforms on the day of the arrests.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a very real terrorism risk and that we have to stay alert," he added.
The three people detained on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the operations of a extremist organization all are based in the city of Antwerp, per the legal authorities. They were born in three different years between 2001 and 2007.
By late Thursday, one of the individuals was released, while the other suspects were under interrogation and likely to face a judge on the next day.
The prosecution revealed that the accused were arrested after a court official ordered raids of their homes in the urban area by police officers assisted by explosive sniffer dogs.
It was during these searches that they located a item which appeared to be an IED, legal representative Ann Fransen said at a press conference on the day of the events.
Investigations also uncovered a "bag of steel balls" and a three-dimensional printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she noted.
The official disclosed that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases launched in the country this year - exceeding the overall count of instances in last year.
In April, five people were sentenced for a scheme last year to attack De Wever while he was holding the position of the city's chief executive.
