The Belgian Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced the arrest of an individual who allegedly planned to attack the Miss Belgium pageant, held this past Saturday.
The arrest of the suspect, identified as Peter C. and born in 1976, took place around 17.30 hours on Saturday in the coastal municipality of De Panne, in the west of the country.
Peter C. was arrested in possession of a firearm and a bulletproof vest, the latter in his vehicle, shortly before he headed to the Plopsaland theme park, the usual venue of the contest.
The individual was accompanied by a Dutch woman. Neither Peter C.’s motives have been clarified nor is it known whether the woman was aware of his plans, according to the statement.
The case remains in the hands of a West Flanders district magistrate, who will decide on Monday whether to initiate legal proceedings against the two.
Belgian public broadcaster RTBF has confirmed that the pageant’s security services were eventually made aware of the threat, so the pageant was slightly delayed while police began a search of the site.
«We have even looked at the winner’s throne,» confirmed the president of the Miss Belgium national committee, Darline Devos. The gala took place without major incidents.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
