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Belgium's authorities have detained three suspects suspected of plotting an strike on the country's PM, Bart de Wever.

Legal authorities characterized the reported plot as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the PM and fellow elected representatives.

During investigations conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the premier's home, authorities discovered a potential IED and evidence that the individuals were preparing to use a UAV.

While the intended targets of the attack were not officially named by the federal prosecutors, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot stated that the prime minister was among them.

"The news of a planned assault targeting Prime Minister Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," Prevot declared in a update on X on the day of the arrests.

"This underscores that we are facing a genuine terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he concluded.

The three people detained on charges of attempted terrorist murder and participation in the operations of a extremist organization all reside in the Antwerp region, as stated by the prosecutor's office. They were with years of birth in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

As of Thursday evening, one of the individuals was released, while the remaining two were under interrogation and expected to be presented before a court on the following day.

The prosecution stated that the accused were detained after a magistrate directed inspections of their residences in the location by police officers supported by explosive sniffer dogs.

Throughout these raids that they located a device which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", legal representative Ann Fransen announced at a news conference on the day of the events.

Investigations also revealed a container of metal spheres and a three-dimensional printer, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she continued.

The official said that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases initiated in the nation this year - more than the total number of investigations in last year.

During the spring, five suspects were convicted for a 2023 plot to target Belgium's leader while he was holding the position of the city's chief executive.