Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The Federal Judicial Police in Antwerp, Belgium, arrested two suspects on suspicion of involvement in the activities of a terrorist group. The Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Friday that the arrests came after searches in extremist right-wing circles.
Three searches were conducted in Belgium: two in Diepenbeek, Limburg, and one in Ostend, West Flanders. Two suspects were detained for questioning. The investigating judge placed one of them, who was suspected of playing a leadership role, in custody.
The two are suspected of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, spreading a terrorist message that entails the risk of committing terrorist crimes, recruiting people with the aim of committing terrorist crimes, and preparing for terrorist crimes. According to the Belgian News Agency.
Right-wing internet platforms
According to the Federal Prosecutor's Office, there are indications that the suspects were active on several far-right encrypted internet platforms. Users on these platforms have actively called for terrorist crimes, recruited new members and shared evidence of 3D-printed firearms.
The suspects were also found in possession of materials to make pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails. Nazi memorabilia, including Nazi flags and swastikas, was also found during one of the searches.
Thursday's searches were part of a case opened by the Federal Prosecutor's Office in May. The case led to judicial investigations abroad, as inspections took place in Germany, Italy, Croatia and Lithuania the day before yesterday, Thursday. According to an announcement by Europol and Eurojust, five suspects were arrested and seven other people were questioned in those proceedings.