Two men were awaiting prosecution on Friday in Saint-Gilles following an attempted robbery in the Brussels municipality.
The Public Prosecutor's Office has requested an investigating judge to decide whether the two perpetrators of a botched robbery in Saint-Gilles on Thursday should be placed under arrest.
The two suspects are aged 19 and 20, the Public Prosecutor announced on Friday.
At around 10:15 on Thursday morning, two people, one armed with a revolver, attempted to hold up a Western Union office in Saint-Gilles. One of the suspects was caught by the police as he fled, while the second took refuge, armed, in a basement in rue du Fort.
At around 11:00, special federal police units arrived on the scene. Rue du Fort was closed to traffic and a security perimeter was set up. Some local residents and passers-by were evacuated from the area.
"After brief negotiations with the special units of the federal police, the individual decided to surrender at around midday", said the police communication service.
The man who surrendered "was standing with his hands up and unarmed", commented Jean Spinette (PS), the mayor of Saint-Gilles. There were no injuries as a result of this failed robbery attempt.
An investigation opened by the Public Prosecutor’s Office will have to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the robbery attempt.
Mayor Spinette expressed gratitude for the efforts of the federal police and the Brussels Midi police zone. “Thanks to the expertise of the police, all the necessary precautions were taken," he said.
According to the mayor, another attempted robbery had taken place at the same location on Wednesday evening. “At the time, the office manager did not open the door. The same individuals tried again this morning when they opened the office,” he said on Thursday.
The mayor noted that the location chosen by the robbers contained “very few valuables.” He confirmed that the two suspects would be prosecuted by the Office of the Public Prosecutor.
