Belgian police arrest suspects plotting ‘jihadist-inspired’ drone attack on prime minister | Belgium

Belgian police arrested three young adults on charges of planning a jihadist-inspired attack using drone-mounted explosives; It was reported that the Belgian prime minister was among the targeted politicians.

Federal prosecutor Ann Fransen said at a press conference that the arrests were made within the scope of an investigation into “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist organization” in the northern city of Antwerp.

“Some 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 intended to build a drone capable of carrying payload,” he added.

The prosecutor’s office refused to name the intended targets, but several Flemish media outlets reported that prime minister Bart De Wever, who was previously mayor of Antwerp, was among them.

“Prime Minister Bart, all our support is to you and your family. Thank you to the security services,” defense minister Theo Francken said on social media.

According to the information obtained, police searched a house just a few hundred meters away from De Wever’s home in the city.

“During a search of a suspect’s home, a handmade device that was potentially explosive but not yet ready for use and a bag containing metal pellets were found,” Fransen said.

Police added that they found a 3D printer at the home of a second suspect “believed to be intended for producing components useful for carrying out attacks.”

The suspects were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

Two of them were being questioned by federal police and were due to appear before the investigating judge on Friday.

The third suspect was released.