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Belgian authorities have taken into custody three individuals allegedly involved in planning an attack on the nation's premier, Bart de Wever.

Federal prosecutors labeled the reported plan as a extremist assault with jihadist roots targeting the premier and fellow government officials.

During raids conducted in Antwerp's Deurne district, in proximity to the premier's personal dwelling, investigators uncovered a potential IED and indications that the individuals were planning to deploy a UAV.

While the prospective targets of the strike were not officially named by the prosecutor's office, Vice Premier Maxime Prevot confirmed that de Wever was among them.

"The news of a planned assault directed toward Prime Minister Bart de Wever is extremely shocking," the deputy prime minister wrote in a message on social media on Thursday.

"It highlights that we are facing a very real terrorist threat and that we have to remain vigilant," he added.

The three individuals detained on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and involvement in the activities of a jihadist network all live in the city of Antwerp, as stated by the federal prosecutors. They were had birth years in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

As of late Thursday, one of the individuals was freed, while the other suspects were undergoing questioning and likely to be presented before a court on the next day.

Legal authorities stated that the individuals were arrested after a judge directed searches of their homes in the urban area by law enforcement supported by explosives-trained dogs.

It was during these raids that they discovered a item which closely resembled a homemade bomb, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen announced at a news conference on Thursday.

Searches also revealed a "bag of steel balls" and a additive manufacturing device, with "indications that they intended to use a drone to attach a payload", she added.

The official stated that there had been eighty counter-terrorism cases initiated in Belgium this year - more than the total number of investigations in last year.

In April, five people were found guilty for a previous year's plan to target De Wever while he was acting as the city's chief executive.