Brussels Arrest of Alleged Palestinian Attacker Released: No Link to Terrorism Found

2023-10-26 17:42:00

The 23-year-old Palestinian arrested because he allegedly threatened to commit an attack was released following being questioned by the police, the Brussels prosecutor’s office said Thursday evening. The investigation showed that he would have no link with terrorist activities. In addition, doubts remain regarding the seriousness of his statements.

Mohammed A., 23, filed an asylum application in Belgium on September 26. He was supposed to show up once more the next day, but didn’t. On Tuesday, he once more appeared before an official body and reportedly said he wanted to die as a martyr. The man reportedly learned that his entire family had died in Gaza.

He was immediately reported nationally, meaning every police unit in the country began searching for him. On Wednesday around 12:30 p.m., police in the Brussels-Midi zone (Anderlecht/Saint-Gilles/Forest) were able to apprehend him in a hotel in Anderlecht.

“The checks carried out on the person concerned did not reveal any link with terrorist activities,” the Brussels prosecutor’s office said on Thursday evening. “Moreover, the seriousness of the comments he allegedly made might not be confirmed. He was therefore released following being questioned by the police.”

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