Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders on Friday suspended campaigning for elections later this month after learning he had been the target of a failed jihadist attack targeting Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever.
Hours after canceling a radio debate, the anti-Islam, anti-immigrant politician posted on Twitter that he had been informed about the threat by Dutch intelligence agency NCTV.
“NCTV does not suspect any ‘residual threat’, but I feel bad and so I am suspending all my campaign activities for the time being,” Wilders said.
Wilders has faced threats to his life and has been under constant police protection since 2004.
The most recent death threats come as the election campaign is in full swing, with Wilders’ party, the Party for Freedom (PVV), leading in opinion polls.
How many people have been detained?
Three people were taken into custody on Thursday after police raided their homes with the help of explosive detection dogs in the Belgian city of Antwerp. According to prosecutors, a homemade bomb was found in one of the homes, but it was not operational at the time.
A bag of steel balls was also found there, while a 3D printer, believed to have been used to make parts for the attack, was found in another house. Prosecutors said it appeared “the intent was to create a drone to add payload.”
Prosecutors said the raids were part of an investigation into “attempted terroristic murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group”. Prosecutors did not say which politicians were possibly targeted.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery