Belgian authorities said Thursday they had arrested three young adults for plotting a jihadist-inspired attack using drone-mounted explosives, with Prime Minister Bart De Wever reported to be among several politicians targeted.
The arrests were made in the northern city of Antwerp as part of an investigation into “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group”, federal prosecutor Ann Fransen told a news conference.
“Certain elements indicate that the suspects intended to carry out a jihadist-inspired terrorist attack against political figures,” Fransen said.
“There are also indications that the suspects aimed to construct a drone capable of carrying a payload,” she added.
The prosecutor’s office declined to name the intended targets, but Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, also owned by Euractiv’s parent company Mediahuis, had multiple sources confirm that Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever was among those in the terrorists’ sights.
Nieuwsblad also reported that while De Wever is aware of the situation, he did not wish to comment further.
Belgium’s defence minister Theo Francken, who serves alongside De Wever in the right-wing Flemish nationalist party N-VA however, had more to say.
Francken posted on X “Drones are a big problem. Islamism is too, but we’ve known that for a while” while sharing the Nieuwsblad article.
According to reports, police searched a residence located just a few hundred metres from De Wever’s home in the city.
“During a search of one suspect’s home, an improvised device, potentially explosive but not yet operational was found, along with a bag containing metal pellets,” Fransen said.
At the home of a second suspect, police discovered a 3D printer “believed to have been intended for manufacturing components useful in carrying out an attack”, she added.
The suspects were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.
Two of them were being questioned by federal police and were due to appear before an investigating judge on Friday, while the third suspect was released.
(cp)
