The police have shot an armed man in the early hours of 28 May near Ichtegem, West Flanders, according to Flemish newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws and confirmed by the town’s mayor. The man is currently under police custody in the hospital in a stable condition.
Police officers were called to an address in the sub-municipality of Eernegem at around 04:00 where the man was found to be agitated and unruly. He later was seen to be armed by the police, who ordered the man to surrender.
Repeatedly goading the police officers and making threats, the police eventually shot the suspect in self-defence.
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It is currently unclear what the suspect was armed with or why the suspect was in such an agitated state. A police investigation has been open, as per protocol, to assess if the use of force by the police was appropriate.
The police and prosecutor’s office have so far refused to give any further comment on the incident.
