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
Vercauteren emphasised the need for urgent action to support organisations such as Netwerk tegen Armoede, Réseau Wallon de Lutte contre la Pauvreté, and 61 other local associations actively working to alleviate poverty
The 23-minute video, posted by well-known influencer DielsMK on 23 February, has since been taken down, but not before it garnered over 67,000 views in four days. While one of the participants claims the footage is fabricated, security footage suggests otherwise
Brussels firefighters, along with utility company Sibelga and local police, responded swiftly to contain the situation. The evacuation was ordered as a precaution after a medium-pressure gas leak was detected, prompting authorities to establish a 50-metre safety perimeter around the affected area
Authorities believe the abduction was linked to a dispute over stolen drugs, though the suspects deny the allegations. The incident unfolded during the night of May 14-15 on Joseph Claes Street, when a witness alerted police after seeing a person being forcibly dragged into a vehicle
