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Threatened: Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne is a hate figure for criminals (photo from summer 2022)
Photo: IMAGO/NICOLAS MAETERLINCK / IMAGO/Belga
Police arrested three people in connection with threats against Belgian Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne.
The suspected men were arrested in the Netherlands on Saturday night, the Belga news agency reported, citing the Belgian federal prosecutor's office.
The security precautions for the liberal politician have been increased and some of his appointments have been canceled.
According to the information, the prosecutor's office was informed "of a possible threat" to Van Quickenborne during the week.
"The first investigations quickly showed that this threat had to be taken seriously." According to research by the broadcaster VRT, a car with Kalashnikovs and bottles of petrol was discovered near the minister's house in the course of the week.
The Dutch number plate of the car brought the investigators to the trail of the arrested.
According to VRT, it was a threat from the criminal milieu.
The perpetrators had planned to kidnap the minister.
This had intensified the fight against the drug mafia in Belgium.
Among other things, he had promoted an extradition agreement with the United Arab Emirates.
According to VRT, Dubai is a popular location for criminals active in Belgium.
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Break with Islam Association
A few days earlier, Van Quickenborne made headlines when he withdrew the recognition of the official representation of Muslims in the country (EMB).
The EMB had been the government's official contact since 1996 and was supposed to train imams and organize Islamic education.
Van Quickenborne said he had 'never seen such amateurishness'.
According to Belgian newspapers, the minister also criticized the EMB for a lack of transparency, a lack of democracy and bad management.
Van Quickenborne said, "The Muslim community deserves better."
mpz/dpa
