Antwerp terror suspects planned attack on Flemish nationalist Filip Dewinter

A group arrested in Antwerp earlier this week on suspicion of being terrorists planned to shoot Filip Dewinter, the leader of the anti-immigration Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) party, Belgian media reported Friday.

Federal police said the plans were at an early stage but were advanced enough to cause great concern, according to the newspaper De Gazet van Antwerpen.

Four people were arrested on suspicion of being part of a terrorist group and planning to commit a terror attack, the federal prosecutor said Wednesday.

One of the suspects is alleged to have wanted to walk into Dewinter’s office and “shoot him down.” However, they later changed their focus to a large-scale terror attack using explosive belts.

Their lawyers said it was doubtful that the men would have gone ahead with their plans because of their young age — the youngest is reported to be 16.

Dewinter said he was shocked by the news: “I have been threatened a lot, even with weapons, but I am shocked each time.”