A suspect has been formally arrested as part of the investigation into an abduction in the Brussels municipality of Sint-Gillis on the night of Tuesday 14 May. The Federal Judicial Police report that the suspect was detained in the West Flemish village of Marke.
On the night of Tuesday 14 May police were called to deal with a fight in Sint-Gillis. A witness reported having seen a man being dragged into a car. During the same night the Antwerp Maritime Police received a report from police in Germany that a person had allegedly been taken hostage and a ransom had been demanded for their release.
This information enabled the Antwerp Federal Judicial Police to identify the suspected abduction victim. A link was established between the incident in Sint-Gillis and the information from Germany. Three suspects were apprehended in the West Flemish village of Marke at around 1:30am on the morning of Wednesday 15 May.
Two of the suspects were released after questioning, the third was formally arrested for abduction by the Brussels Examining Magistrate.
Thanks to further investigation by the Antwerp and Brussel Federal Judicial Police Services and by the police and judicial authorities in The Netherlands the victim of the abduction was found a few days later. The Brussels Federal Judicial Police are currently investigating the exact circumstances of and the motive for the abduction.