Malik, the 13-year-old Indian boy who was on a school trip in Belgium and went missing, possibly arranged his own disappearance, according to reports.
“He separated himself from the group and made a few phone calls with a white smartphone. He asked for the address of our restaurant and passed it on. After his group left the restaurant, he stayed behind. I had the impression that someone was going to pick him up there," the manager of the Brussels restaurant where Malik was last seen said.
The testimony suggested that an appointment had already been made prior to the school trip, and that Malik only had to respond when he was in Belgium or Europe, the police suspect. The police are trying to find out who, where and when the boy was arranging to meet, by an investigation of Malik's telephone contacts.
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"As far as we know, his family has no connection with anyone in Europe," said the group leader Naten to Het Nieuwsblad. “We came to Europe with 35 students, from 14 to 20 years old, for a nine-day school trip. We started in Paris. Belgium was our second stop. Saturday we went to dinner together in that Indian restaurant in Brussels. Once back at the hotel, we noticed that someone was missing," he added.
Malik's parents in India were informed of the disappearance of their son, and are awaiting further news.
On Sunday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and Child Focus had already issued an investigation report for the disappearance, which was considered to be alarming.
Malik is about 1.55 meters tall, lean built and has black short hair. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing Adidas blue training pants, a brown jacket, a brown T-shirt and black sports shoes. Tips can be shared on the toll-free number 0800/30.300 or via Child Focus on the number 116.000.
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times
