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Belgium's authorities have arrested three people accused of planning an attack on the nation's PM, Bart de Wever.

Federal prosecutors described the suspected scheme as a "jihadist-inspired terrorist attack" targeting the prime minister and additional politicians.

During raids conducted in Deurne, Antwerp, close to the prime minister's home, officials found a suspected homemade bomb and evidence that the individuals were preparing to employ a UAV.

While the intended targets of the attack were not officially named by the legal authorities, Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prevot revealed that de Wever was one of them.

"Reports of a planned assault aimed at PM Bart de Wever is deeply alarming," the deputy prime minister wrote in a message on social media on the investigation day.

"It highlights that we are confronting a serious extremist danger and that we have to remain vigilant," he continued.

The three suspects arrested on allegations of terrorism-related attempted murder and participation in the functions of a extremist organization all reside in Antwerp, according to the legal authorities. They were born in 2001, 2002 and 2007.

On late Thursday, one person was let go, while the other suspects were under interrogation and expected to face a judge on the next day.

The prosecution stated that the accused were detained after a judge ordered inspections of their dwellings in the urban area by law enforcement backed by explosives-trained dogs.

Throughout these investigations that they found a device which closely resembled a homemade bomb, lead prosecutor Ann Fransen stated at a media briefing on the day of the events.

Investigations also found a "bag of steel balls" and a additive manufacturing device, with evidence suggesting drone-based payload delivery, she noted.

The official said that there had been 80 extremist probes launched in Belgium in the current year - surpassing the full amount of instances in last year.

Earlier this year, five individuals were convicted for a scheme last year to target Belgium's leader while he was serving as the city's chief executive.