Prosecutors requested prison terms of up to eight years on Wednesday for members of a group accused of perpetrating four attacks within the Antwerp drug world in 2022.
Ringleader Abdenor R., previously sentenced to six years in prison for similar offences, faces an additional six-year sentence. Middleman Ayoub A., who selected and directed the perpetrators, could be imprisoned for eight years.
The list of families targeted in these attacks reads like a ‘who’s who’ of the Antwerp drug world.
The first two attacks, on 12 and 13 May 2022 in De Gilmanstraat, Deurne, were aimed at fugitive drug lord Mounir ‘Gino’ E.B. The next two, on 1 June in Zegepraalstraat, Borgerhout, and Vrijhandelstraat, Berchem, targeted the family of kickboxer Jamal B.S. and the C. family, respectively.
Heavy fireworks were detonated each time, resulting in significant damage, particularly in Borgerhout, where several people were injured by the loud explosion.
In court, the defendants—Abdenor R., Ayoub A., and Jurriaan H., the perpetrator of the first attack—did not dispute the charges, but their lawyers requested lenient sentences.
R. argued he did not deserve a severe additional penalty because these offences occurred simultaneously with the attack for which he was already convicted.
Ayoub A.’s lawyer argued that he cooperated fully with the investigation, while Jurrian H.’s attorney said he had declined further assignments after being deeply affected by the first attack.
Ayoub A. also claimed he was threatened by Abdenor R. to plan the attacks, but the prosecution dismissed this assertion, citing a promised €25,000 reward.
The prosecution characterised the acts as retaliations within the criminal milieu. This was not denied by Abdenor R., who mentioned, through his lawyer, a previous attack on his parents’ home.
The verdict is scheduled for 25 March.
