Suspected Plot to Attack Belgian Prime Minister Thwarted
Belgium's police have arrested three people suspected of plotting an attack on the nation's PM, Bart de Wever.
Prosecutors described the alleged scheme as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and other government officials.
During investigations conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, close to the PM's personal dwelling, officials found a suspected improvised explosive device and proof that the suspects were intending to deploy a drone.
While the prospective targets of the attack were not officially named by the federal prosecutors, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot confirmed that Belgium's leader was one of them.
"Reports of a premeditated attack aimed at PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister wrote in a message on social media on the day of the arrests.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to stay alert," he continued.
The three people detained on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder and involvement in the functions of a extremist organization all live in Antwerp, per the federal prosecutors. They were born in the early 2000s.
By late Thursday, one suspect was freed, while two others were still being questioned and scheduled to appear in court on the following day.
The prosecution said that the accused were arrested after a magistrate directed raids of their dwellings in the urban area by officials supported by bomb detection canines.
Throughout these searches that they located a device which closely resembled a homemade bomb, federal prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference on the day of the events.
Searches also found a collection of ball bearings and a additive manufacturing device, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she added.
The official said that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases initiated in the nation this year - exceeding the total number of cases in the previous year.
In April, five people were found guilty for a previous year's plan to target Belgium's leader while he was serving as the city's chief executive.
