"Arrested Charleroi police officer linked to police officer death investigation"

During the search of premises in Lodelinsart, a borough of Charleroi, a special units police officer was killed. He was shot dead by the occupant of the house. Two other elite officers were wounded in the shooting, the suspect later died of his injuries in hospital.

The raid formed part of an investigation into gang activity and drug, arms and car trafficking. Later in the day, it became known that 3 officers from the Charleroi police had been arrested on suspicion of breaches in professional confidentiality rules and criminal conspiracy. Possible links between the two cases are being investigated.

In a press release on Tuesday evening, the Charleroi public prosecutor's office said that the two separate investigations "do not seem to have any connection at the moment".

The name of 1 of the 3 arrested officers possibly occurs in both investigations. He is charged with "criminal conspiracy in connection with the case that led to the Lodelinsart raid on Monday morning".

The officer is suspected of having links to one of the key players in the case that triggered the search. According to the public prosecutor, this explains why operations in the two separate cases were coordinated.

The prosecutor's office stresses that currently there are no indications that there was any contact between the police officer and the gunman in connection with the search.

Pre-trial detention

The 3 arrested officers have been remanded in custody. All 3 are charged with fraud by a civil servant and embezzlement. Other charges include abuse of office, breach of professional confidentiality and unlawful consultation of databases.