A 19-year-old Antwerp man suspected of planning an attack on a Jewish institution was arrested on Saturday, Antwerp public prosecutors said on Sunday evening.
“He is suspected of illegal possession of weapons and preparation of a terrorist attack”, the public prosecutor’s office said.
The suspect will appear next week before the Council Chamber, which will decide whether or not to place him under arrest warrant. An examining magistrate has also been appointed to investigate the case.
Belgian Justice Minister Paul Van Tigchelt confirmed this information on Sunday, adding that police had been informed on Friday evening of the presence in Antwerp of a man who wanted to attack Jewish institutions.
According to the Israeli government, the Hamas Islamist movement has planned terrorist attacks against targets in Europe, including the Israeli embassy in Sweden.
In an interview with the Flemish tv channel VTM, the Belgian minister said that “there are no concrete indication that the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas is targeting our country.”
”However, the ecurity services remain vigilant,” l Van Tigchelt said.