An 80-year-old man from West Flanders has been arrested under suspicion of sending white powder to a series of high-level Belgian institutions, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office announced.
At the end of 2024, several suspicious letters containing a white powder were sent to various locations, including the headquarters of the State Security Service, the office of the Minister of Justice, the office of the Minister of the Interior, the Brussels Courthouse and a police court in Kortrijk.
Thanks to intensive investigations, the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office was able to identify a suspect. He is an 80-year-old man from Dentergem, in West Flanders.
A search was carried out at his home on the orders of the investigating judge in Bruges, during which toxic substances were discovered. The man was brought before the investigating judge and placed under arrest.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office had the powder contained in all the letters analysed, and the results revealed that it was mainly brucine.
Brucine is a toxic substance used, among other things, to control small rodents. It can be fatal if ingested and cause irritation if it comes into contact with the skin.
