14-Year-Old Arrested in Belgium for Alleged Mosque Attack Plot

Belgian authorities arrested a 14-year-old boy on Thursday suspected of planning a terrorist attack on a mosque, DW news agency reported. Prosecutors in Brussels stated that the teen is believed to be affiliated with a far-right movement and was preparing to execute the attack on Friday. The arrest followed a tip-off, leading to a dawn raid at the suspect’s home, where weapons were seized.

Belgium’s Justice Minister, Paul Van Tigchelt, confirmed the suspect’s age and expressed concerns regarding the radicalization of minors. He noted that nearly one-third of individuals monitored by Belgium’s intelligence service for potential attacks are under 18. The minister highlighted the accelerated radicalization process among youth, often exacerbated by social media influences.

On June 9, 2024, Belgium held national elections that saw Prime Minister Alexander De Croo suffer a bruising defeat. The right-wing New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) emerged as the biggest winner in the June elections, with the extreme-right pro-separatist Vlaams Belang in second place.