A Brussels police officer has been arrested in Texas. He’s suspected of soliciting sex with minors online daily Het Nieuwsblad reports. The man allegedly contacted the profile of a 14-year-old girl, which was actually being used by the American police of the FBI to entrap adults seeking sex with minors.
According to media reports, the man is said to be a 26-year-old inspector from the Brussels Capital/Elsene zone's intervention brigade.
He was reportedly arrested in Tarrant County, in the state of Texas, back on 16 April for searching online for a sex worker while in the United States and twice landing on the profile of a 14-year-old girl.
The profile turned out to be a trap set by the FBI, which proactively tries to entrap adults seeking sex with minors. On the second occasion, the man received an onscreen warning from the FBI saying that what he was doing was illegal. Nevertheless, he persevered and continued to search for minors, upon which he was arrested by US police. The man risks up to 20 years in prison in Texas.
‘Internal investigation under way’
‘The Brussels local police zone are aware of the facts,’ says Ilse Van de keere, spokesperson for Brussels police. ‘An internal investigation was immediately launched to obtain full clarity on the situation. Depending on the results of this investigation, appropriate measures will be taken regarding the police officer involved, in accordance with the procedures in force.’
‘The Belgian foreign ministry is aware of the case and our consular office in the United States is following it closely,’ the foreign ministry says. ‘As it concerns an individual, we cannot provide any further information.’