A 9-year-old child was restrained and held down by police on Tuesday afternoon at a special education primary school in Nalinnes (Hainaut), the Germinalt police zone announced on Wednesday evening.
A report has been drawn up for the Charleroi Public Prosecutor.
A team from the Germinalt police zone was called in by the management of the Nalinnes special education primary school on Tuesday afternoon to calm down a 9-year-old child who was being "difficult". The scene, filmed by the minor's mother, shows a police officer restraining the child on the ground.
"The management restrained him initially, before calling in our services. We don't just walk into schools. The child was difficult and the mother was not responding to calls from the school," said Commanding Officer of the Germinalt police zone Alain Bal.
According to Sudinfo, a complaint has been lodged by the mother against the police. Legal action against the mother has not been ruled out by the police zone.
"An official report has been drawn up for the Charleroi Public Prosecutor. The minor's mother decided to film the scene and bash us, whereas the police officers were simply doing their job and doing their utmost to protect the safety of both the management who made the call and the child," the police official said.
"With this video, there's a real risk that the police will be attacked, but the mother will also have to accept her responsibilities. In particular, we will be explaining that there were calls and that she didn't intervene immediately for whatever reason. If our colleagues are attacked, we will defend them."
Contacted by the press, the Charleroi Public Prosecutor's Office said that it will release information on the incident on Thursday.
