The 55-year-old man who was arrested on Monday morning on suspicion of attempted kidnapping of a minor was charged by the investigating judge and released on conditions, the Brussels prosecutor’s office said on Wednesday. The victim is 13 years old, not 8 years old as erroneously announced on Tuesday, the prosecution said.
The facts took place at the Val Maria bus stop in Neder-over-Heembeek, Monday morning around 08:00. A 13-year-old boy got off a Stib bus, the Brussels public transport company, and rushed into another. He spoke directly to the driver of this second vehicle, asking him for help. He told her that a man was following him and pointed it out to her. The driver then closed the doors of the bus, preventing this individual from getting on, and notified the police.
The suspect, a 55-year-old man, was arrested by police shortly thereafter. He was questioned and then made available to the investigating judge on Tuesday. The latter charged him with attempted kidnapping of a minor and released him on conditions.