On October 9, Belgian Justice Minister Franck Vandebroucke confirmed that security forces had successfully thwarted an organized terrorist plot, after weeks of monitoring and collecting intelligence. The group of suspects is said to be preparing a large-scale attack, targeting the countrys top politicians.
At least seven people were arrested in coordinated raids in Brussels, Antwerp and the Flanders region, according to initial reports. All are Belgian citizens, aged between 20 and 35, suspected of being involved in extreme Islamic organizations abroad.
Thanks to the quick action of the federal police and intelligence agencies, a tragedy has been thwarted, said Belgian Interior Minister David Clarinval. He emphasized that the suspects are being questioned and many electronic devices and documents have been seized to serve the investigation.
Investigators believe the group is in the final preparation stage, which could take action in the next few days. Some security sources have revealed that Prime Minister Bart De Wever, a conservative, could be the main target of the plot.
Information on social network X, Defense Minister Georges- Louis Bouchez wrote: The news of the attack plan against Prime Minister Bart De Wever is truly shocking. This is a reminder that the terrorist threat has never gone away.
Belgian authorities said the national security warning is still maintained at level 3 on a scale of 4 - meaning there is a real risk of an attack. Additional security measures have been deployed around government headquarters, parliament and the prime minister's residence.
Belgium has been the target of many serious terrorist attacks over the past decade, most notably the Brussels bombing in 2016 that killed 32 people and injured more than 300 others.
The Ministry of Justice affirmed that it will continue to coordinate with security agencies of EU countries to identify the entire network behind this plan. Belgian will not give in to any plot that threatens our democracy, Minister Vandebroucke said.
