Wilders reportedly on Belgian terror cell's target list; Pulls out of election debate

Geert Wilders is reportedly on the target list of a terrorist cell arrested in Belgium on Thursday. The PVV leader has pulled out of an election debate on NOS on Friday afternoon as a precaution.

A journalist from the Belgian commercial broadcaster VTM Nieuws reported, based on information received, that Wilders’ name appeared on the terrorism suspects’ list along with the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and Antwerp mayor Els Van Doesburg.

The Netherlands’ National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) has not commented on the matter, NOS reports. But Wilders has decided to play it safe and stay out of the public view for the time being. “It is now being investigated whether this report is correct or not,” Wilders wrote on X. “Until I know, I’m not going anywhere.”

The Belgian authorities announced on Thursday that they arrested three young people from Antwerp on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder. According to the authorities, they planned to carry out a jihadist-inspired terrorist attack on politicians.

According to Belgian media, the suspects wanted to commit attacks on local and foreign politicians using a drone with an explosive attached to it. The authorities have not confirmed who is involved. “According to information that has reached us, it could be the top Dutch politician Geert Wilders,” the VTM reporter said. “The far-right politician Geert Wilders was also on the perpetrators’ list, along with Els van Doesburg and Bart Wever. That’s what we’re hearing.”

The suspects are 18, 23, and 24 years old. According to VTM Nieuws, the police found an improvised explosive in the home of the youngest suspect and a 3D printer in the oldest suspect’s home. They will be arraigned later on Friday. The third suspect has already been released due to a lack of evidence.