Drama in Charleroi this Monday.
A police officer died during a search as part of an investigation into arms and drug trafficking.
The suspect also died in the exchange of fire, indicates the public prosecutor's office in the Walloon city.
Two other police officers were injured in the shooting.
One of them is “in critical condition”, indicated the Charleroi prosecutor, Vincent Fiasse, during a press conference.
The tragedy occurred around 6:30 a.m., a few moments after the arrival of a team from special units of the federal police instructed by an investigating judge to search the suspect's home.
When they arrived, the latter was armed and holed up behind a door from which “he almost emptied his magazine”, announces the prosecutor.
One of the police officers died instantly.
The operation required the intervention of reinforcements in order to enter the home.
Found injured in the house, the suspect did not survive his injuries despite being transferred to hospital.
According to the prosecution, the police officers were operating as part of an investigation opened in Charleroi for “criminal conspiracy, drug trafficking, vehicle trafficking and arms trafficking”.
“A dark day for the Belgian police”
“It was a reinforced search given the profile of the suspect,” explained the prosecutor, without mentioning the number of police officers dispatched to the scene.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo presented his condolences to the family of the killed 36-year-old police officer, as did the Ministers of the Interior and Justice according to media reports.
“The work of our law enforcement, serving the population, deserves respect.
Targeting them is despicable and will never go unpunished,” Alexander De Croo reacted on X (formerly Twitter).
My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the police officer who died in Lodelinsart.
And those who are between life and death.
The work of our law enforcement, serving the population, deserves respect.
Targeting them is despicable and will never go unpunished.
— Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) March 18, 2024
“It’s a dark day for the Belgian police,” commented Éric Snoeck, interim boss of the federal police.