A judge in Tongeren has detained three suspects in connection with an arson attack at a prison officer’s home in Heers, South Limburg.
Another suspect, a minor, has been handed over to a juvenile judge, while a fifth was released, the Limburg Public Prosecutor’s office announced on Thursday.
On the morning of 23 November, a vehicle was set on fire in the driveway of the prison officer’s home. Residents and neighbours managed to control the blaze until the South-West Limburg fire brigade arrived. The firefighters quickly put out the fire, and no one was injured.
In a threatening letter left in the officer’s mailbox, the perpetrators warned they would return if he continued working at the Leuven-Centraal prison.
A forensic team was called to conduct a trace evidence investigation.
The Federal Judicial Police in Limburg, under the direction of the investigating judge in Tongeren, carried out raids at various addresses in Flanders and Brussels on Wednesday, leading to the arrest of the five suspects.
Police also searched locations in Liedekerke, Erpe-Mere, Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Koekelberg, and Merchtem.
The four adult suspects, all very young, appeared before the investigating judge in Tongeren on Thursday.
