Brussels, June 3, 2025 — A 12-year-old boy has died after being struck by a police car during a chase in Ganshoren, a municipality in northwest Brussels. The fatal accident occurred on Monday evening and has prompted an investigation by Belgium’s police oversight body.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the incident happened on Avenue des Gloires Nationales at around 17:50. The victim, identified only as a boy born in 2013, was riding a scooter when the police vehicle collided with him.
Emergency responders resuscitated the child at the scene before rushing him to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Fire department spokesperson Walter Derieuw stated that the accident occurred during an active police pursuit that had started in the nearby Koekelberg district. Although details remain limited, local media reports suggest the chase may have been linked to a suspected criminal activity.
The Brussels-West police zone, to which the vehicle belonged, has declined to comment, referring inquiries to the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office. A spokesperson noted the police zone is a “concerned party” in the case.
Ganshoren Mayor Jean-Paul Van Laethem, from the Les Engagés party, expressed his condolences in a statement Monday evening. “I am thinking of this young boy, born in 2013,” Van Laethem said. “I also have thoughts for the officers who must be shocked by this tragic outcome.”
The Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a judicial expert has been appointed to investigate the circumstances of the collision. Oversight has been transferred to the P Committee, the Belgian watchdog tasked with investigating police conduct.
The tragic death has reignited concerns about police vehicle chases and the potential risks to bystanders. It marks the second fatal collision involving a police car in Brussels in just over a month.
In May, a man riding a moped was killed in the Marolles district after being hit by a police patrol car. It was later revealed that the officer behind the wheel did not have a valid driving licence at the time of the crash.
More recently, on Saturday, a woman was struck by another police vehicle near Place Princess Elizabeth in Schaerbeek during a separate chase. She sustained injuries, but authorities said her life was not in danger.
Critics have called for a review of police chase protocols, especially in urban areas where the risk to pedestrians and other road users is high. Local authorities have yet to confirm whether the latest incident will trigger any policy changes.
As the investigation continues, the community in Ganshoren is mourning the loss of a young life. Flowers and candles were placed on Avenue des Gloires Nationales on Tuesday morning in memory of the child.
Further updates are expected as the P Committee concludes its investigation and the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office gathers more details.
