Reported Plan to Attack Belgian Prime Minister Foiled
Belgium's law enforcement have taken into custody three suspects suspected of plotting an strike on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.
Legal authorities labeled the alleged plan as a terrorist act motivated by jihadist ideology targeting the prime minister and other elected representatives.
During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, near the premier's private residence, authorities uncovered a alleged IED and proof that the individuals were preparing to employ a drone.
While the prospective targets of the strike were not officially named by the legal authorities, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot confirmed that Belgium's leader was one of them.
"The news of a intended attack directed toward Premier Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the deputy prime minister declared in a post on online platforms on Thursday.
"It highlights that we are dealing with a serious terrorism risk and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.
The three individuals arrested on charges of plotting a terrorist killing and engagement in the operations of a terrorist group all reside in Antwerp, according to the legal authorities. They were with years of birth in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
On Thursday evening, one suspect was let go, while the remaining two were still being questioned and scheduled to be presented before a court on Friday.
Legal authorities stated that the individuals were taken into custody after a court official ordered raids of their homes in the location by officials supported by explosives-trained dogs.
Throughout these searches that they discovered a object which appeared to be an IED, legal representative Ann Fransen stated at a press conference on that day.
Searches also found a collection of ball bearings and a three-dimensional printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she added.
The prosecutor disclosed that there had been 80 terrorism investigations launched in the country so far this year - exceeding the total number of investigations in the previous year.
In April, five people were convicted for a scheme last year to strike De Wever while he was acting as Antwerp's mayor.
