The Antwerp Court of Appeal handed down prison sentences on Thursday of up to six years for individuals involved in a foiled attack on the then-Mayor of Antwerp, Bart De Wever (N-VA).
The main defendant received a six-year prison term and a €16,000 fine, while his four accomplices were sentenced to between 55 months and three years in prison.
"The court condemns the terrorist organisation that, in March 2023, planned an attack against Bart De Wever and a police station, to significant prison sentences," it stated on Thursday. "The court convicted the members for preparing a terrorist attack but acquitted them of attempted terrorist assassination."
These individuals were arrested on 27 March 2023, following several raids in Antwerp, Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, and Eupen. The police had been monitoring them for months after the Antwerp Federal Judicial Police were warned by State Security of suspicious activities by Elias E.A.
An in-depth investigation uncovered communications on private discussion groups. These messages indicated that Elias E.A. wanted to assassinate Bart De Wever and attack a police station, and that he was prepared to die a martyr. He was looking for a Kalashnikov, handguns and explosives. An undercover agent had infiltrated the Telegram chat group to monitor the delivery of weapons.
This delivery appeared to be imminent at the end of March 2023. The plans for the attack also appeared to be at an advanced stage, which prompted the police to intervene.
