A planned robbery was foiled: the trial of Antonio Ferrara, a major organized crime figure, was postponed in Brussels.

The trial of Antonio Ferrara, prosecuted in Belgium for a planned bank robbery in Germany, was adjourned immediately upon its opening on Monday in Brussels. The court decided to postpone the proceedings until the end of May, stating that certain elements of the case file had been submitted to the parties late.

The case dates back to February 2025, when Belgian law enforcement intercepted a suspicious group in the town of Eupen, near the German border. Investigators suspect the defendants of planning an imminent attack on a fortified center in Bochum, an operation that was to involve heavy weapons and explosives.

A figure of organized crime at the heart of the case

Considered one of the alleged instigators, Antonio Ferrara denies the accusations against him. His lawyer emphasizes the absence of weapons at the time of his arrest and questions the links established with other members of the group based on phone records.

The 52-year-old, a repeat offender, is on trial alongside nine other people, several of whom have already been convicted of similar crimes. The charges include participation in a criminal organization, weapons possession, and attempted aggravated robbery. The next hearing is scheduled for May 26.