Belgian police have arrested three men suspected of plotting a “jihadist-inspired attack targeting politicians.” The federal public prosecutor’s office announced this on Thursday. Authorities have not said who the target was. Both Defense Minister Francken and Foreign Minister Prévot to confirm reports in the Belgian media that this was Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
On Thursday morning, the police carried out searches at four locations in Deurne, a district of the city of Antwerp. De Wever lives with his family in Deurne, according to the broadcaster VRT just half a kilometer from one of the houses searched. A homemade explosive was found during the police operation. “An improvised device,” the prosecutor’s office said during a press conference. The object was “not yet operational.” The explosive was made to be attached to a drone, writes, among others The Newspaper based on police sources.
Officers also seized a bag of steel balls and a 3D printer. The public prosecutor’s office believes that the printer would be used to make parts for the attack, including a drone. The suspects are young men, born in 2001, 2002 and 2007. Two of them will appear before an investigating judge on Friday, the third person was released on Thursday.
The public prosecutor’s office speaks of “politicians”. It is unclear whether the perpetrators had other Belgian politicians in mind and who this could be. According to Flemish media, De Wever does not want to comment on the incident.
De Wever, the leader of the Flemish nationalist liberal-conservative party N-VA for many years and Prime Minister of Belgium since January, has had to deal with threats before. A few months ago, five people were convicted who, according to the judge, had planned an attack on the politician.
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