An unlicenced mortuary has been discovered in a block of flats in the Flemish Brabant municipality of Zaventem. A neighbour had spotted someone walking on the terrace of one of the flats in the block. They contacted local councillor Tim De Vits (Flemish nationalist). The bodies have since been removed from the flat and an investigation has been opened.
It was during a residents meeting that the issue of the mortuary was raised. Tom De Vits told VRT News that “A resident said that someone had set up a mortuary in the block of flats. The council was informed and a Justice of the Peace contacted as it appears that the mortuary was unlicenced”.
“People contacted us about this issue because it is so disturbing. It is reported to have been in a in a flat on the ground floor, but I do not have any further details. Apparently, the refrigerators could be heard running in other flats. You do not want dead bodies being stored in your apartment building”, Mr De Vits.
The Mayor of Zaventem Burgemeester Dirk Philips (liberal) confirms that he is aware of the illegal mortuary and that action was taken straight away”.
Mr Philips says that a police have drafted a crime report and it has been passed on to the Public Prosecutor.
According to the mortuary's website, it has 3 years of experience and bodies stored there “ritually cleansed according to Sunni traditions within Islam.”
The mortuary is now closed and the bodies have been removed from the building.