3 young men arrested in Belgium on suspicion of plotting to assassinate prime minister

Three young men have been arrested in Antwerp on suspicion of planning assassination attempts against politicians, possibly Prime Minister Bart de Wever, the news agency Belga reports, citing the prosecutor’s office.

The suspects, born in 2001, 2002 and 2007, were detained during four house searches carried out in the Antwerp district of Deurne. According to the prosecutor’s office, they were planning a terrorist attack inspired by jihadist ideology. They were arrested during searches, during which law enforcement officers found materials necessary to assemble an improvised explosive device. The prosecutor’s office believes that the suspects planned to attach the explosive device to a drone.

One of the arrested has been released, while the other two will appear before a judge on Oct. 10.