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Belgian authorities have detained three people suspected of plotting an attack on the country's premier, Bart de Wever.

Federal prosecutors characterized the suspected scheme as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and fellow elected representatives.

During searches conducted in the Deurne area of Antwerp, close to the premier's home, investigators discovered a alleged homemade bomb and evidence that the individuals were preparing to deploy a unmanned aerial vehicle.

While the planned victims of the attack were not disclosed by name by the legal authorities, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot revealed that de Wever was among them.

"The news of a planned assault aimed at PM Bart de Wever is profoundly disturbing," the deputy prime minister stated in a post on social media on the day of the arrests.

"It highlights that we are confronting a serious terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he added.

The three people detained on allegations of plotting a terrorist killing and involvement in the functions of a extremist organization all are based in Antwerp, according to the federal prosecutors. They were had birth years in the early 2000s.

On the evening of the arrests, one person was let go, while the remaining two were still being questioned and likely to appear in court on the next day.

Federal prosecutors said that the individuals were detained after a court official authorized raids of their homes in the location by law enforcement supported by bomb detection canines.

In the course of these searches that they discovered a device which "bore strong resemblances to an improvised explosive device", lead prosecutor Ann Fransen stated at a media briefing on that day.

Raids also uncovered a container of metal spheres and a 3D printer, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she noted.

The official disclosed that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases opened in the nation so far this year - exceeding the total number of instances in the previous year.

In April, five individuals were convicted for a scheme last year to attack Belgium's leader while he was acting as the city's chief executive.