Brussels police conducted 13 searches and 12 arrests on Tuesday as part of an investigation into an “urban gang” responsible for several violent robberies, it said on Friday.
The arrested persons are young women and men aged between 15 and 19 years old.
"No fewer than 110 police officers took part in the coordinated operation" conducted by the Brussels West zone supported by colleagues from Brussels North, Brussels West police reported.
According to the police, the gang extorted money from its victims.
“The offences committed were characterised by extreme violence," Brussels West police said. "The victim first met with a female suspect but was then greeted at the meeting place by a male suspect. The latter emptied the victim’s bank accounts using the banking app on their smartphones or by using their bank cards,” police explained.
“The members of this gang, aged between 15 and 19, were not known to the law before they started their criminal activities in 2022,” according to the police.
The searches were “calm” and resulted in the seizure of “an alarm pistol, victims’ ID cards and other evidence related to the events,” police said.
