Alleged Plan to Target Belgian Premier Foiled

Belgium's law enforcement have detained three individuals accused of plotting an attack on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever.

Prosecutors labeled the suspected plan as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and other elected representatives.

During raids conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the prime minister's private residence, officials found a potential IED and proof that the suspects were planning to use a UAV.

While the intended targets of the assault were not officially named by the prosecutor's office, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot revealed that the prime minister was among them.

"Information of a premeditated strike targeting PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the official declared in a message on X on the day of the arrests.

"It emphasizes that we are confronting a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to stay alert," he concluded.

The three suspects detained on allegations of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the functions of a terrorist group all are based in the city of Antwerp, as stated by the prosecutor's office. They were had birth years in the early 2000s.

On Thursday evening, one suspect was let go, while the other suspects were under interrogation and expected to appear in court on the next day.

The prosecution revealed that the individuals were arrested after a court official directed searches of their residences in the location by police officers assisted by explosive sniffer dogs.

In the course of these investigations that they found a device which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", legal representative Ann Fransen stated at a press conference on the day of the events.

Searches also found a container of metal spheres and a 3D printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she added.

Fransen stated that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases initiated in Belgium in the current year - more than the total number of instances in 2024.

During the spring, five suspects were convicted for a previous year's plan to strike De Wever while he was serving as Antwerp's mayor.