Islamist couple sentenced to 15 and 8 years in prison for planning to murder Jews in Antwerp

A Chechen citizen and his wife were sentenced by a court in Bruges (Belgium) to 15 and 8 years in prison respectively for planning attacks in the Jewish quarter and in an LGBT bar in the Belgian city of Antwerp.

The Bruges Criminal Court sentenced the man, Abubakar S., aged 26 and resident of Menen (West Flanders), to 15 years in prison and his wife, Liza M., aged 35, to eight years in prison, for planning an attack in the Jewish quarter and in a bar. LGBTQ from Antwerp, the Belga agency reported.

The prosecutor had requested 18 years in prison for both of them.

The investigation began when Abubakar S. began to radicalize in the spring of 2023.

He first reached out to the Islamic State (IS) via Telegram, where he began holding discussions about a possible terrorist attack they wanted to commit in the summer of 2023.

Investigators' reports mention the Jewish quarter of Antwerp and a gay bar in Antwerp as possible targets for the attacks they wanted to carry out.

The suspect then came into contact with an undercover agent while searching for weapons and accomplices for the attack.

Abubakar S. was arrested after purchasing a gun from the undercover agent, who had also ordered a Kalashnikov and grenades from him.

According to federal prosecutors, their plans for the attacks were already well advanced and they had even rented a garage to store weapons and explosives.

The Flemish daily De Standaard reports that the suspects also wanted to carry out minor attacks in the region where they live.

"They wanted to kill as many victims as possible in public places in a coordinated manner," said the federal prosecutor, who demanded a fine of 12.000 euros and eighteen years in prison. EFE