The Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) in Leuven has launched a judicial investigation into the deaths of two persons whose bodies were found on Friday at the scene of a fire in Haasrode, a district in the Flemish Brabant municipality of Oud-Herverlee.
The victims are a 46-year-old mother and her six-year-old daughter, both of whom had injuries all over their bodies, according to the OPP, which also stated that the fire was started deliberately.
The emergency services rushed to the scene immediately after the blaze was reported at around 9.30 a.m. It was brought under control at around 10:20 a.m., but while searching the house, firefighters discovered the bodies of the woman and her daughter. The child was resuscitated at the scene but did not survive.
“We can confirm that both victims were stabbed,” the OPP announced on Friday evening. “The autopsy will take place on Tuesday. According to the fire expert’s initial findings, the fire was started deliberately.”
The building, a former rectory, is owned by the local church but the municipality of Oud-Heverlee rents it for Ukrainian refugees.
The deceased mother and her two children lived there. The second child, a 16-year-old boy, has been taken into care.
