Canister of petrol and pyrotechnics found outside Belarusian Greek Catholic church in Antwerp

A canister of petrol and pyrotechnic items was found on the morning of 1 November outside the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Antwerp, Belgium. Police received a report of the find on Sunday at around 08:00 local time (10:00 Minsk time). The canister stood in front of the church on Lange Beeldekensstraat, with pyrotechnics attached to it.

Bomb disposal specialists (DOVO), forensic officers and civil protection staff arrived at the scene. Belarusian media reported this, citing the Belgian broadcaster VRT. The street was closed for a time.

Law enforcement reported that one person had been detained. His involvement in the incident is being established. A car was seized from the detainee. The investigation is being led by the Federal Prosecutor's Office of Belgium.

The church hosts services of the Belarusian Greek Catholic Church. Liturgies in Belarusian are held there on Sundays, but the Sunday service had to be cancelled: according to the priest Ivan Maiseichyk, because of a check after a report of a possible bomb.

The priest wrote that an alarming incident had taken place near the church that day. He thanked God that everything had turned out well and nobody was hurt, and thanked the police and security services "for their quick response and care for people's safety" (translated).