One of three arrested Charleroi police officers has been charged with "criminal conspiracy" in connection with the case for which a house search was carried out on Monday morning, in which a special forces agent and the suspect lost their lives.
Three Charleroi police officers were arrested on Monday morning under the suspicion of corruption, and have since been charged and issued with an arrest warrant in connection to an ongoing investigation, the Charleroi Public Prosecutor's Office announced.
The officers have been charged with various offences, including forgery and embezzlement by a public official, breach of trust and professional secrecy, and unlawful consultation of a database as well as weapons offences.
The technical unit of the police inspecting the scene of a police operation in Lodelinsart. Credit: Belga / Virginie Lefour
One of the police officers concerned has also been charged with criminal conspiracy in connection with the case that led to the fatal house search on Rue de l'Étang in Lodelinsart (Charleroi) on Monday.
A 36-year-old Special Units officer (DSU) named Jonathan was shot dead. This is the first time in recent history that a special forces officer has died in such an operation in Belgium. The suspect died of his injuries in hospital. Whether he was hit by a police bullet or shot himself remains to be investigated. A second police officer was seriously injured.
Warning of house search?
The fatal house search was part of an investigation into gang activity and drug, arms and car trafficking. The Charleroi Public Prosecutor's Office pointed out that the two cases under investigation concern different subjects of investigation. They are being handled by other investigating judges and different police services.
However, the interventions in these two separate cases have been coordinated, given that one of the police officers charged is also suspected of being linked to one of the key players in the case that led to the Lodelinsart search.
There is currently no indication that the police officer charged in both cases had any contact with the now-deceased suspect who opened fire, for example, to warn him of the forthcoming search.
A total of 15 officers from the Special Units were called in for the search on Monday because it was predicted to be risky. As soon as the heavily armed officers entered the house, the suspect started shooting dozens of bullets at the officers.
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The chances of survival for the officer who sustained life-threatening injuries are now "slightly better", the Prosecutor's Office stated. For a long time, he was fighting for his life. A third officer was slightly injured.
The Federal Police called for the anonymity of the injured police officers to be respected. "We do this at the request of these colleagues and their families and also with a view to their future and further operational deployment."
Police zones across Belgium will observe a minute's silence for their colleagues at 12:00 on Thursday. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) spoke about the deadly shooting in the Chamber on Wednesday.
"I can assure you that each mission of the special police units is meticulously prepared in accordance with the required procedures," she affirmed. "As long as the necessary conditions are not met, no leader will send in troops. But there is no such thing as zero risk, even if it is reduced to a minimum."
