The man stopped with a weapon on his way to last year's Miss Belgium competition will be interned after facing charges of attempted manslaughter. A judge in Bruges (West Flanders) ordered the internment after hearing from doctors that the man suffers from severe psychological problems. He will not be incarcerated in a closed psychiatric centre but must undergo psychiatric treatment.
Internment is possible for criminals, who experience mental problems, when e.g. there is a danger they might reoffend. Internment can take place at a closed psychiatric centre, but also in daycare when psychiatric treatment is provided.
The man from Lommel in Limburg, who is in his 40s, was stopped last February, while on his way to the Miss Belgium pageant at Plopsaland De Panne (West Flanders) by car. In his vehicle police found two firearms and a bullet-proof vest. The pageant was postponed for a while until the building could be searched.
The federal prosecutor's office advised that there were signs that the man wanted to carry out an attack. A Bruges examining judge then detained the suspect on suspicion of attempted terrorist murder.
Psychiatric tests
The defendant’s lawyer argued that there was no question of a foiled attack. The defendant possessed the weapons because he felt threatened.
The suspect was examined by a psychiatrist and a psychologist, and their reports showed that he had been struggling with severe mental problems for some time.
The court psychiatrist also concluded that the suspect was not culpable for his actions. He was conditionally released and placed under electronic monitoring.
A judge in Bruges has now ruled that there was indeed an instance of attempted manslaughter and decided to order internment.