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Belgian authorities have arrested three suspects accused of plotting an strike on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever.

Federal prosecutors characterized the suspected plot as a terrorist act motivated by jihadist ideology targeting the prime minister and other elected representatives.

During investigations conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, near the prime minister's personal dwelling, officials found a suspected improvised explosive device and indications that the individuals were planning to use a drone.

While the intended targets of the assault were not disclosed by name by the federal prosecutors, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot stated that Belgium's leader was included in the targets.

"Reports of a intended strike targeting Prime Minister Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister wrote in a message on social media on Thursday.

"It highlights that we are facing a serious terrorism risk and that we have to keep watchful," he continued.

The three suspects taken into custody on charges of attempted terrorist murder and engagement in the activities of a extremist organization all live in Antwerp, according to the prosecutor's office. They were had birth years in three different years between 2001 and 2007.

As of the evening of the arrests, one person was freed, while the remaining two were under interrogation and scheduled to face a judge on the next day.

Federal prosecutors revealed that the suspects were taken into custody after a judge authorized inspections of their homes in the city by law enforcement assisted by bomb detection canines.

Throughout these raids that they discovered a device which appeared to be an IED, legal representative Ann Fransen said at a press conference on Thursday.

Investigations also revealed a container of metal spheres and a additive manufacturing device, with signs of drone weaponization plans, she continued.

Fransen stated that there had been 80 terrorism investigations launched in the nation this year - more than the overall count of investigations in 2024.

Earlier this year, five people were found guilty for a previous year's plan to attack Belgium's leader while he was acting as the mayor of Antwerp.