A 17-year-old boy's life is in danger after he was shot in the Belgian coastal municipality of Ostend on Wednesday night, confirmed the Bruges division of the West Flanders Public Prosecutor's Office on Thursday.
Four suspects were arrested in the Netherlands after a police chase, but it is not yet clear whether they can be linked to the incident.
The incident occurred around 04:00 at night at an apartment on the Voorhavenlaan in Ostend. A 17-year-old boy sustained life-threatening injuries during the shooting and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Following the incident, the Public Prosecutor's Office has appointed a forensic pathologist and a weapons expert. A lab was also on site to conduct forensic analysis.
"The investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing," the Public Prosecutor's Office reported Thursday morning. The possible motive has not yet been disclosed.
After the shooting, several potential suspects fled in the direction of the Netherlands. However, at the border crossing in Woensdrecht, their license plate was recognised by a camera and a police chase ensued.
Ultimately, four suspects were arrested on the A16 motorway near Lage Zwaluwe, in the Dutch province of North Brabant. Further investigation will determine whether the four can actually be linked to the shooting.
