The attack against two officers from the Brussels-North police zone which occurred on 10 November last in Schaerbeek, during which police officer Thomas Monjoie was killed and his colleague seriously injured, will be subject to the same rules in terms of aid to victims and surviving relatives than those that apply to acts of terrorism.
A royal decree from the Minister of Justice, Vincent Van Quickenborne, was approved last Friday to this effect by the Council of Ministers. Victims and their surviving relatives will receive faster compensation without having to wait for the outcome of the trial. This decision has no connection with the legal proceedings. Last November, police officer Thomas Monjoie was killed in a knife attack in Schaerbeek. A second policeman was injured.
“Anyone who attacks the police because of their function is attacking our society as a whole. It is therefore our duty, as a society, to show solidarity with the victims, their families and their survivors. This decision will allow them to benefit from financial assistance more quickly, regardless of whether there is a verdict, whether or not the author is able to bear the costs and the outcome of the judicial investigation.“, commented on Wednesday the Minister of Justice, by means of a press release.
Victims and surviving relatives will thus be able to call more quickly on the global intervention of the Commission for Financial Assistance to Victims of Deliberate Acts of Violence and to occasional rescuers, without waiting for the outcome of criminal proceedings.