Police discovered a man all-tied up during checks on a suspicious van in Zellik (Flemish Brabant) last night. The vehicle’s other occupants jumped out of the van with officers in hot pursuit. During the chase one officer was injured. 3 men were arrested.
The police patrol encountered the suspicious van on the Brusselsesteenweg in Zellik. Officers approached the van to carry out checks, as 4 to 5 suspects jumped out of the vehicle and set off running. The police gave chase and immediately caught one man. In the process, one officer sustained injuries.
A helicopter was deployed to circle above Zellik and to track down the other suspects. In this way police were able to arrest 2 more suspects. Inside the van, officers found a man all tied up. He stated he was the owner of the van and was allegedly the victim of a carjacking.
Suspects deny wrongdoing
‘The suspects have meanwhile been questioned but deny all allegations. As for the injuries to the officer, one of the suspects provided an implausible explanation,’ says Sabine Lievens of the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office.
‘The 3 men will be arraigned before an examining magistrate on Monday facing charges of theft with violence, threatening behaviour at night with the display of weapons, unlawful deprivation of liberty and intentional GBH and injury resulting in incapacitation.’
The investigation into what exactly was going on is in full swing.