A man detained the day prior on suspicions of plotting violence against the Miss Belgium event faced formal charges this Sunday, with the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office stating he is accused of attempting a terrorist killing in connection with the Bruges incident surrounding the pageant.
The investigation center is in Bruges, where the examining judge ordered the arrest of a 46-year-old man named Peter C. He faces a charge of “terrorist assassination attempt.” A review judge has not yet ruled on the status of a Dutch woman who accompanied the suspect at the time of his arrest. The sequence unfolded Saturday afternoon when the two arrived in a rented car at the De Panne theater venue hosting Miss Belgium.
Prosecutors say Peter C. is expected to appear before the Council Chamber of the Bruges Court of First Instance within five days to face formal proceedings. Eric Van Der Sypt, a spokesperson for the prosecution, noted that the man had issued threats implying an intent to cause harm and that the plan could have produced catastrophic consequences if executed.
Authorities observed that the suspect wore a bulletproof vest and carried heavy arms when captured. There was no prior police record attributed to him, according to reports in Le Soir.
Law enforcement sources in the Limburg region, in the northeast, traced a note the suspect sent to his former wife on Saturday afternoon. In that message he claimed his ex would be part of a plan to stage a bloodbath during the Miss Belgium pageant. The developments were detailed by Nieuwsblad, which covered the threat extensively.
Moments before the gala was due to begin, a large police unit was dispatched to the theater to evacuate the room where the suspect would have been kept. The aim was to conduct a thorough weapons search and secure access routes into and out of the venue as a precaution against potential danger.
Before authorities could respond further, the suspect was apprehended and moved into police custody for questioning. The security operation proceeded without incident, and investigators continued to reconstruct the sequence of events that led to the arrest.
Event organizers chose to delay the Miss Belgium show by one hour. They informed the audience that the venue would undergo a full security sweep to ensure the safety of attendees and participants. The security risk assessment and the extended delay reflected heightened vigilance in response to credible threats identified in the hours leading up to the event. The theater remained under observation as officials coordinated with security personnel to manage entry protocols and maintain public safety throughout the proceedings.
At the heart of the report is the broader concern about threats to public events and how authorities respond, with investigators piecing together the timeline and the specifics of the alleged plan. The case underscores the emphasis on rapid security measures, risk assessment, and coordinated action between police, prosecutors, and event organizers to safeguard participants and spectators in high-profile cultural events.