Murder of police officer Nordine El Talbi: six Brussels residents arrested in three countries
Three suspects arrested in Spain were attempting to flee to Morocco. In total, six people are under arrest warrants in this murder case linked to drug trafficking.
International manhunt following the murder of a Belgian police officer in Jette
Three of the suspects sought in connection with the murder of Nordine El Talbi have been arrested in Almería, in southern Spain, while they were apparently attempting to reach Morocco, reports bladi.net. The Guardia Civil intercepted them thanks to close cooperation with Belgian authorities.
The Prosecutor of the King in Brussels, Julien Moinil, detailed these arrests during a press conference on Sunday, 18 October, citing information distributed by BRUZZ. The three men were subject to international arrest warrants. Their transfer to Belgium has been formally requested; Spanish justice must now rule on their extradition.
The manhunt has simultaneously extended to France. A fourth suspect was arrested at a Paris train station, as he was also about to flee. Two other individuals were arrested in Belgium. In total, six Brussels residents—five adults and one minor—are now under arrest warrants. All were already known to the judicial services for matters related to narcotics.
The events date back to the night of 12 to 13 October. Armed individuals stole a vehicle in Tubize, south of Brussels. A few hours later, the car is located in the municipality of Jette. Nordine El Talbi, a 41-year-old inspector and member of the Anti-assault Brigade, walks forward in plainclothes to conduct reconnaissance. He is struck by a bullet to the head. His colleagues find him gravely wounded; this father of two children dies shortly after from his injuries.
The investigation quickly directed inquiries towards drug trafficking: narcotics had been discovered in the stolen vehicle. According to the public prosecutor, five of the six suspects arrested were on board this car. Investigators are seeking to reconstruct the group's movements and the exact circumstances of the fatal shooting.
Three firearms were moreover found near the vehicle. Ongoing ballistic and DNA analyses should make it possible to identify the weapon used and to establish individual responsibilities. Prosecutor Moinil specified that several individuals could be implicated in the murder, beyond solely the person who fired the shot.
These arrests occur two days after the national tribute paid to El Talbi at the Cinquantenaire in Brussels. On Friday, more than a thousand police officers had gathered to salute their colleague, nicknamed "James". On Sunday, the prosecutor thanked the investigators as well as the French and Spanish authorities, whose cooperation made possible the arrests in Paris and in Almería.
Source: Google News MA — Crime (fr)