The federal prosecutor’s office has confirmed that a 46-year-old man (Peter C.) was arrested in De Panne on Saturday evening, around 5.30 pm, who probably wanted to commit an attack during the election of Miss Belgium. That election took place later in the evening in Plopsaland in De Panne. The man was in possession of a handgun. A firearm and a bulletproof vest were also found in his vehicle. The exact motive of Peter C. is still unclear.
“The investigation has shown that he probably wanted to commit an attack during the election of Miss Belgium that would take place a little later in Plopsaland. The exact motives of Peter C. are still unclear. He was not known, neither to the police nor to the security services,” the federal prosecutor’s office said in a press release.
He would have driven from Limburg to De Panne yesterday with a rental car. He had five licensed weapons with him and was intercepted by the police before he arrived in Plopsaland. It would be a police zone from Limburg that had received a message from the partner of the man who threatened an attack, writes Belga. According to Belga, he comes from Lommel and was born in 1976. The man was accompanied by a woman of Dutch nationality. It is not yet clear whether she was aware of his plans.
“The case was entrusted to an investigating judge from the judicial district of West Flanders, Bruges section. He will decide later Sunday or Monday morning whether both persons will be brought before him and whether he will issue an arrest warrant.
The pageant of Miss Belgium could go ahead as planned, but with some delay. Just before the show was to start at 8.30 pm, the room was cleared. After a delay of more than an hour, the election was able to start around 9:30 p.m.
RECONSTRUCTION. The thwarted attack on Miss Belgium election: five weapons, a rental car and a man from Lommel
Police thwart possible attack during election of ‘Miss Belgium’: man arrested with weapons after which show can still start
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.