BRUSSELS — A significant demonstration unfolded on Friday at the Palace of Justice as hundreds of police officers gathered in response to the arrest of a fellow officer linked to the tragic death of an 11-year-old boy. Approximately 300 officers, hailing from various police zones in and around Brussels and Antwerp, converged on Place Poelaert to vocally express their discontent regarding the officer’s detention.
Community tension following a tragic incident
The officer’s arrest has ignited outrage among police unions, as tensions rise between law enforcement and the local community in the wake of young Fabian’s death. He lost his life in Elisabeth Park, located in northwestern Brussels, following a police pursuit that occurred in early June.
Prosecutorial investigations suggest that the officer involved initiated the chase without activating the vehicle’s blue light or siren and allegedly drove into the park — an area prohibited for vehicles — at speeds exceeding 40 kilometers per hour.
“Nobody wanted little Fabian to die. People sometimes forget that we are also mothers and fathers,” Police Chief Michel Goovaerts commented on a local radio show.
“They may have been careless, but that arrest was a big surprise,” he added, emphasizing the shared apprehension within the police force. “The feeling among colleagues is: This could have happened to me, too.”
Protests against police violence
Earlier that day, the vicinity around the Palace of Justice also witnessed a separate protest against police violence, where hundreds rallied in memory of Sourour Abouda. The 46-year-old woman of Algerian descent died in a Brussels prison cell in January 2023 due to a medical emergency, prompting calls for accountability.
The Brussels Council Chamber deliberated on the potential prosecution of the police regarding Abouda’s death; however, the decision was postponed as both the police and the victim’s family requested additional investigation, with no new date set for the proceedings.
The protesters conveyed their sentiments through signs that read, “Sourour, Fabian: We don’t forget, we don’t forgive,” and “Who protects us from the police?” highlighting the growing concerns about police conduct and accountability within the community.