🔗 Share this article Suspected Scheme to Target Belgian PM Thwarted Belgian authorities have taken into custody three people accused of conspiring to carry out an assault on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever. Prosecutors labeled the alleged scheme as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the prime minister and fellow elected representatives. During searches conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, near the prime minister's home, officials found a potential IED and indications that the individuals were planning to employ a UAV. While the prospective targets of the attack were not publicly identified by the federal prosecutors, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot confirmed that de Wever was among them. "The news of a premeditated assault aimed at Prime Minister Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister declared in a message on X on the investigation day. "It emphasizes that we are facing a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued. The three people detained on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and engagement in the activities of a terrorist group all are based in the Antwerp region, according to the federal prosecutors. They were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007. On late Thursday, one suspect was freed, while two others were under interrogation and expected to appear in court on the next day. Legal authorities said that the individuals were arrested after a magistrate directed inspections of their dwellings in the city by officials assisted by bomb detection canines. In the course of these searches that they located a device which appeared to be an IED, legal representative Ann Fransen stated at a press conference on that day. Investigations also found a "bag of steel balls" and a additive manufacturing device, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she continued. The prosecutor stated that there had been 80 extremist probes initiated in the country so far this year - exceeding the overall count of instances in last year. During the spring, five suspects were convicted for a scheme last year to attack De Wever while he was serving as the mayor of Antwerp.