Two Dutch nationals were arrested in Belgium at the beginning of August in connection with a planned terrorist attack on the European Commission offices in Brussels, broadcaster Nos said at the weekend.

A man and woman of Turkish origin were picked up at Zaventem airport on their return from Turkey, Nos said. They ‘may also’ have been in Syria.

Belgian officials suspect of them of involvement in terrorism, of financing terrorism and breaking weapons laws, the Nos said, quoting confidential sources. As they were arrested, Dutch police searched four homes in The Hague and confiscated ‘jihadist material’.

Guns

The AD reports on Monday that explosives were found in their home in The Hague. The paper bases its claims on sources close to the investigation.

The paper also says the couple, which it names as Adil U (33) and Zeyneb K (28), had learned to make bombs and shoot guns. A nephew has vanished and is thought to be in Syria.

The couple are said to also have a flat in Brussels where police found guns and a bullet-proof vest. The AD says they had spent most of the past 18 months in Belgium.

Belgian media said at the weekend officials have been able to prevent a number of terrorist attacks in the past few months and have arrested several returnees from Syria and their sympathisers.

Nos said the Belgian authorities are also investigating other people from the Netherlands with jihadist sympathies.