Reported Plot to Strike Belgian PM Thwarted

Belgium's authorities have taken into custody three people suspected of plotting an strike on the government's premier, Bart de Wever.

Federal prosecutors characterized the alleged plot as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the PM and fellow elected representatives.

During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, close to the premier's private residence, investigators uncovered a suspected IED and evidence that the individuals were planning to employ a UAV.

While the intended targets of the attack were not publicly identified by the prosecutor's office, Second-in-command Maxime Prevot revealed that the prime minister was one of them.

"The news of a premeditated strike targeting Premier Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," Prevot wrote in a message on online platforms on the day of the arrests.

"This underscores that we are facing a serious extremist danger and that we have to stay alert," he added.

The three suspects detained on allegations of plotting a terrorist killing and participation in the activities of a jihadist network all are based in the Antwerp region, as stated by the federal prosecutors. They were born in the early 2000s.

As of Thursday evening, one of the individuals was let go, while two others were still being questioned and expected to be presented before a court on Friday.

Legal authorities stated that the individuals were arrested after a magistrate directed inspections of their homes in the city by law enforcement backed by bomb detection canines.

In the course of these investigations that they found a item which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", federal prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a press conference on Thursday.

Searches also found a container of metal spheres and a additive manufacturing device, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she noted.

Fransen stated that there had been 80 terrorism investigations opened in the country so far this year - exceeding the overall count of cases in last year.

In April, five people were sentenced for a previous year's plan to attack Belgium's leader while he was holding the position of Antwerp's mayor.