Belgian state security warns of rising threats from Russia, extremism and organised crime

Belgium faces a growing mix of security threats, according to the latest annual report from the State Security Service. These range from Russian interference and terrorism to online extremist networks and drug-related violence, VRT NWS reports.

Russia is seen as the most immediate foreign threat. Since the war in Ukraine began, Belgium has faced espionage, disinformation, cyberattacks and attempts to influence politics. State Security says dozens of Russian intelligence officers posing as diplomats have been refused entry in recent years.

The report also points to suspicious drone sightings near sensitive sites. Many reports turned out to be false alarms, but some drone flights were confirmed and are still under investigation. There is no firm proof of Russian involvement so far, but officials warn against underestimating the risk.

Another concern is the use of so-called “disposable agents”: paid freelancers hired to carry out low-level sabotage or disruption. In Belgium, these actions have so far been limited, but authorities fear they could escalate, as seen in other European countries.

Terror threat 

Jihadist terrorism has not disappeared, the report stresses. While large terror networks are less common, lone attackers and small cells remain a serious risk. Alarmingly, one third of terrorism cases now involve minors, some as young as 12. Many suspects are influenced by conflicts abroad and extremist propaganda linked to IS or al-Qaeda.

Both left- and right-wing extremism also remain active. Most incidents involve protests turning violent or intimidation, rather than direct terror plots. However, the greatest concern lies with online extremist subcultures, including nihilistic groups known as “764 networks”.

These groups target young and vulnerable people online, using blackmail, abuse and extreme violence. For the first time, State Security says this form of extremism is structurally present in Belgium, though its full scale is hard to measure.

Drug crime 

Finally, State Security warns that organised drug crime is becoming “state-undermining”. Violence linked to drugs has grown more extreme, with shootings, explosions and threats against police, prison staff and judges. Intelligence services are now working more closely with police and courts to counter this threat.

^{© BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}