Brussels mayor says violence ‘undermining society’ after officer shot dead in Jette
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close has asked for additional funds for the federal police in the Belgian capital after a police officer was killed in the Jette district.
Close, a member of the Socialist Party (PS) who also heads the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone, made the request following the death of a 41-year-old officer who was shot in the head Monday at 11:10 p.m. The officer was attempting to intercept a vehicle stolen in a carjacking.
The victim belonged to the Anti-Aggression Brigade and was in plain clothes, watching the location where the car had been spotted. Three suspects have been arrested in the shooting.
The Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws reported that the suspects claim they thought the officer was a rival gang member when they opened fire.
Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil had asked for a budget to hire 10 additional public servants for the federal police after the shooting. Close described the request as “not insurmountable.”
In an interview with RTBF Radio, Close said every level of government should take responsibility. He described the rise in violence as a wider societal problem and pointed to explosive attacks in Antwerp and the widespread circulation of guns across Belgium.
“We knew there were going to be incidents. A very experienced police officer has been shot. People don’t realize that the violence is undermining society,” Close said.
He said the budget to fight organized crime has reached its limit at the local level. He said Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, of the N-VA party, should host a meeting to discuss the problems in the capital.
Close also called on authorities to extend the fight against drug violence to every link in the chain, from smuggling through the port of Antwerp to preventive policies on drug use.
“Drugs are everywhere; it’s a phenomenon that people refuse to talk about,” Close said. “Where are the campaigns to discourage young people from taking drugs, from using cocaine, ketamine or ecstasy?”
