A 24-year-old man from Zwijndrecht was brought before the examining magistrate in Mechelen last weekend after he made a "joke" threat of an attack on Belgium, referencing the recent attack in New Zealand. In addition to photos of the Central Station in Antwerp, the threatening message also included photos of Brenton Tarrant, the New Zealand terrorist who killed fifty in an attack on two mosques last week. The man added to his message that he was "out of revenge for all his innocent Muslim brothers," according to reports.
Immediately after the message was intercepted, the police started an investigation, said the Antwerp public prosecutor. “We were able to identify the man on Friday night around midnight. He was arrested on Saturday morning."
Further investigation showed that the man intended it as a "joke" and that he admitted his stupid behaviour. The investigating judge released the man under stringent conditions.
The Brussels Times
