In Antwerp, five people have been arrested in an investigation into the abduction of a minor at the beginning of this year. The victim, 16 years old at the time, was taken at the school gate and then beaten and punched.
Antwerp police arrested five people, including three minors aged 17, in five simultaneous searches in the city's districts of Hoboken, Wilrijk, Hemiksem and the Kiel. The searches took place last week, and the Antwerp local police worked together with the Federal Judicial Police as well as officers from another police zone, VRT reports.
In early January, the victim was kidnapped at the school gate. He had to hand over several of his belongings and convince his elder brother to come to the kidnappers.
When the elder brother, who allegedly owed a debt to the kidnappers, did not show up, the victim was beaten and kicked, Het Laatste Nieuws reports. The kidnappers had previously already stolen his electric scooter and smartphone, and were reportedly also violent in the process.
In addition to the three minors (two of whom appeared before the juvenile court), two adult suspects were also arrested.
