Another child killed by police vehicle

A nine-year-old boy has died after being struck by a police vehicle in Antwerp on Wednesday morning.

The circumstances of the accident are not yet clear, but the police car was responding to a call with lights and sirens on when it struck the child around 9.45 on Provinciestraat near a school.

The police officers involved in the accident provided first aid to the child before the emergency services arrived, but the victim died from his injuries.

“A breathalyser and drug test were carried out on the driver of the police van, a 25-year-old man, and both tests were negative,” said Kato Belmans, spokesperson for the Antwerp public prosecutor's office.

“The images from the street surveillance cameras will be viewed. Witnesses and the driver will also be interviewed when circumstances allow.”

The independent Committee P will handle the investigation. The committee is also looking into a similar incident that occurred in Brussels this month where an 11-year-old boy was struck and killed by a police car during a chase through a public park where cars are not permitted.

According to initial reports concerning the Antwerp accident, the collision occurred at a pedestrian crossing where the child was crossing the road on his bicycle.

The involved police officers, along with the victim’s family, have been offered psychological support services.

In light of the Brussels tragey, the Brussels parliament's internal affairs ommittee unanimously decided to hold hearings after the summer recess with local associations, police zones and other actors on the issue of police chases.

Committee chair Aline Godfrin (MR) said it had decided to work after the recess on following up on a 2020 resolution, which aims to improve relations between citizens and the police.

The text already mentioned deadly chases in the Brussels region involving young people. After the hearings, the committee will assess the extent to which the recommendations of the resolution have been followed up.