In the investigation into the murder of 11-year-old Firdaous in January last year, police arrested a new suspect on Friday: a 28-year-old taxi driver from Rumst (Antwerp), who might have picked up the weapon that was used.
The Federal Judicial Police of Antwerp conducted a new search on Friday in the investigation into the murder of Firdaous. The girl was fatally hit in January 2023 when unknown persons fired at the garage door of her parental home in Merksem with a weapon of war. Her father and sisters, aged 13 and 18, were injured.
On a bullet casing found at the place of the shooting, police found the DNA of Daniëlle R. (53). The woman had previously been arrested after many weapons had been found in her home. It is thought that a criminal organisation was using the property as a warehouse. She was arrested in February and detained in prison.
An intermediary
On Friday, the police carried out several searches of acquaintances of the woman and arrested J.B., a 28-year-old man from Rumst, said Kristof Aerts, spokesperson for the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office. "He comes into the picture as someone who might have picked up the used weapon from the 53-year-old woman in Putte. He would have acted as an intermediary in that role."
J.B. appeared before the investigating judge on Saturday. The judge decided to place him under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Firdaous and of the triple attempted murder of her family members.
