A voyeurism investigation has been opened after an incident at a youth camp in Plombières (Liège province), which prompted the Flemish Catholic youth movement Katholieke Landelijke Jeugd (KLJ) to cut short its stay, prosecutors said on Friday.
The incident took place in the municipality of Plombières on Wednesday, according to Françoise Zegels, the acting divisional public prosecutor.
It remains unclear exactly what happened. On Wednesday evening, the KLJ decided to end the camp prematurely due to the incident. The 125 children present returned to Balen on Thursday afternoon. The camp was due to run until Sunday.
A suspect in his 50s, born in 1972, was arrested and taken into custody, she said. The man operated the premises at which the KLJ was staying, the prosecutor added.
The case was referred to an investigating judge on Friday, with prosecutors requesting an arrest warrant on a charge of voyeurism, an act of sexual interest or the practice of spying on people engaged in intimate behaviours such as undressing.
The mayor of Plombières, Michelle Habets (MR), initially did not wish to comment extensively on the incident. "When the municipality of Plombières was informed of Wednesday's events, we went to the scene," said Habets on Thursday.
"In consultation with the police, the municipality of Balen and the young people involved, it was decided to bring the camp to an end. We have made municipal staff available to help with the clean-up, in as calm a manner as possible."
