The Court of Appeal in Antwerp has handed down prison sentences of up to six years for the foiled assassination attempt on Belgium’s current prime minister, Bart De Wever. The group’s leader was sentenced to six years in prison and a fine of 16,000 euros, while his four accomplices received prison sentences ranging from 55 months to three years.

“The court sentences the terrorist organisation that prepared an attack on Bart De Wever and a police station in March 2023 to severe effective prison sentences,” the court said on Thursday. The members of the group were convicted of organising a terrorist attack, but acquitted of attempted terrorist murder.

Intercepted communications showed that Elias E.A. wanted to carry out an attack on De Wever and a police station

The accused were arrested on 27 March 2023 after a series of house searches in Antwerp, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Eupen. They had been under surveillance after the Antwerp federal judicial police received information from State Security about the disturbing activities of Elias E.A., a 21-year-old from Antwerp. 

Elias E.A. had been distributing Islamic State propaganda on his social media and had recorded a training video in which he presented himself as an IS fighter who appeared ready for violence. Intercepted communications showed that he wanted to carry out an attack on De Wever, who was mayor of Antwerp at the time, and an unspecified police station. 

Well-advanced plan

Elias E.A. said he was ready to die a martyr’s death and was looking for weapons. An undercover agent contacted him via the messaging app Telegram to monitor the delivery of the weapons. “Elias E.A. had agreed on a price of 2,200 euros for the purchase of an AK47 with two magazines of fifty bullets,” the federal prosecutor said. 

“He wanted the weapon delivered by 10 April. The attack on Bart De Wever was to take place after Ramadan. He told the undercover agent that he was looking for another gun for a ‘brother from Verviers’ who wanted to join him,” the prosecutor said.

The police intervened shortly afterwards because the plan to attack De Wever was already well advanced. According to the federal prosecutor, the “brother” was Sebastian B., a 21-year-old from Eupen, who had already planned an attack on a police station as a minor. 

Accomplices deny criminal involvement

Harun C. from Antwerp, a 37-year-old colleague of Elias E.A. who encouraged him and under whose influence E.A. quickly became radicalised, is also considered to be part of the terrorist group. The same applies to Jihad E.H. (22) from Antwerp, who provided De Wever’s address, and Vanessa B. (24) from Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, the religious wife of E.A. 

According to his lawyer, Elias E.A. could easily have changed his mind because he did not even have any weapons

After the events, the federal prosecutor had requested thirteen years’ imprisonment for Elias E.A. and Harun C., twelve years for Sebastian B., eight years for Jihad E.H. and seven years for Vanessa B. The defendants challenged the charge of attempted terrorist murder. 

According to his lawyer, Elias E.A. could easily have changed his mind because he did not even have any weapons, but he pleaded guilty to preparatory acts. The other defendants denied any knowledge of the plans or any criminal involvement.