Belgian police on Thursday arrested three suspects who allegedly planned to attack Prime Minister Bart De Wever with homemade explosives.
The suspects, born in 2001, 2002 and 2007 respectively, are believed to be part of an Islamic terror cell.
Belgian Federal Prosecutor Ann Fransen said “there are indications that the intention was to commit a jihadist-inspired terrorist attack targeting politicians.”
Els van Doesburg, the mayor of Antwerp, was also among the targeted, according to Belgian media outlets.
On Friday, Belgian news agency VRT reported that Dutch populist far-right leader Geert Wilders was also on the target list.
Due to this terrorist threat, Wilders did not attend the election debate organized by Dutch state radio.
Wilders, known for his anti-Islam stance, is the leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), the largest party in the Netherlands. According to recent polls, his party is projected to win the general election on Oct. 29, 2025.
Belgian authorities said the investigation is ongoing.