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Geert Wilders, the Dutch leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) said he is suspending campaigning activities for the upcoming national election, following reports that he was a possible target of a suspected plot in Belgium to kill politicians.
Three young men were arrested in Belgium on Thursday after investigators discovered a homemade explosive which the suspects were reportedly planning to attach to a drone to carry out the attack.
Prosecutors said the police raids were part of an investigation into “attempted terrorist murder and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.” They didn’t identify the politicians who might have been targeted, but Belgian government ministers identified Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever as one target.
Wilders had cancelled an appearance at an election debate with other political leaders following the reports. Later, he posted on X that the Dutch National Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism and Safety (NCTV) confirmed to him he was one of the targets of the suspected plot.
He said authorities do not “expect a residual threat, but I have a bad feeling about this and am therefore suspending all my campaign activities for the time being.”
An early general election is set to take place in the Netherlands on 29 October, and Wilders’ PVV Party is currently leading in polls.
The election was called after Wilders pulled out of the ruling four-party coalition in a dispute about a crackdown on migration.
He is known as a sharp critic of Islam and was convicted in court of group defamation after he led anti-Moroccan chants during a campaign rally in 2014. Another conviction of inciting hatred an discrimination was later overturned by an appeals court.
Dutch Justice Minister Foort van Oosten said on X he had requested that the NCTV “do everything necessary to enable Mr. Wilders to resume his work as soon as he wishes.” He added that he would “never accept that politicians can’t do their work because of threats.”
Dutch public broadcaster NOS, which hosted Friday’s debate, said they had invited Wilders to participate over a telephone call, but he refused.
Leader of the right-wing People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) Dilan Yeşilgöz said she is prepared to move an upcoming debate on Sunday to a secret location to allow Wilders to participate.