Suspected Plot to Strike Belgian Prime Minister Foiled

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

Federal prosecutors described the reported scheme as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the PM and fellow government officials.

During investigations conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, close to the PM's personal dwelling, investigators found a alleged improvised explosive device and proof that the accused were planning to deploy a drone.

While the intended targets of the attack were not officially named by the legal authorities, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot revealed that Belgium's leader was among them.

"Reports of a intended assault directed toward Prime Minister Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the deputy prime minister declared in a message on social media on Thursday.

"This underscores that we are dealing with a very real terrorist threat and that we have to stay alert," he continued.

The three people arrested on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and engagement in the functions of a jihadist network all are based in Antwerp, per the federal prosecutors. They were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

On the evening of the arrests, one of the individuals was released, while two others were still being questioned and expected to face a judge on the following day.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the suspects were arrested after a court official authorized searches of their residences in the city by law enforcement backed by explosive sniffer dogs.

Throughout these investigations that they discovered a device which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", federal prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a press conference on that day.

Raids also uncovered a collection of ball bearings and a additive manufacturing device, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she added.

The official disclosed that there had been 80 extremist probes launched in the nation so far this year - exceeding the full amount of cases in 2024.

During the spring, five individuals were sentenced for a previous year's plan to target the prime minister while he was serving as the mayor of Antwerp.