A 41-year-old police officer was fatally shot in the Brussels municipality of Jette while intercepting a vehicle stolen during a carjacking on Monday night at 23:10.
Agent Nordine belonged to the Anti-Aggression Brigade of the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone, a unit deployed in particularly high-risk armed operations.
In a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, the Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil said that the police were contacted by a person from Anderlecht, who explained to the police that they had been robbed and carjacked by three or four armed individuals.
Using automatic number plate recognition cameras, police located the vehicle on the Brussels ring road, and multiple units were involved in intercepting it, including the Anti-Aggression Brigade.
The vehicle was found in Jette, where Agent Nordine, dressed in plain clothes, went to survey the scene while colleagues remained behind; he did not return.
Colleagues went in search and found him "inanimate" next to the carjacked vehicle. "He was shot in the head by a firearm. Several weapons were found on the ground," Moinil said.
He confirmed that the charge is murder. "Several people have been apprehended and are in custody."
Prosecutor Moinil also confirmed that drugs were found in the car that had been carjacked in Walloon Brabant. “A separate case file has therefore been opened in relation to the drugs,” he said.
It is unclear whether the drugs were the motive for the carjacking.
Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw; Brussels' Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil and Chief of Police for the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles Police District Michel Goovaerts pictured during a press conference of the Brussels Public Prosecutor regarding two incidents, on Tuesday 13 October 2026, in Brussels. Credit: Belga/Dirk Waem
The prosecutor noted that as the case was ongoing, he could not release further details about the suspects.
"My thoughts go to the family of this exceptional police officer, whom I have rubbed shoulders with. Motivated and committed to serve citizens and the common good, he is a servant of the state."
Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) had earlier expressed his condolences and support: "A police officer lost his life yesterday during an operation in Jette. My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones and his colleagues. We owe them our respect, support and recognition."
Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever (N-VA) also offered his condolences: "A police officer lost his life last night while on duty in Brussels. I offer my deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones and the entire Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police district," he said on social media.
"We cannot thank the men and women enough who carry out their duties every day with the utmost courage, and sometimes even at the risk of their own lives, for the safety of us all."
According to sources close to the investigation, the police officer is believed to have given chase to a suspect, who then opened fire on the police on Rue Honoré Longtin in Jette.
The mayor of the City of Brussels Philippe Close (PS) visited Jette overnight and also offered condolences to the officer’s family, friends and colleagues.
“Police work is difficult. We know that, but some do not always realise the risks these women and men take every day to protect others,” he said. “They do so with immense responsibility, sometimes at the risk of their own lives.”
“Let us never forget that these public service officers watch over our safety every day,” Close added.
Police pictured at the place of a shooting which took place in the night along the Rue Honoré Longtin - Honoré Longtinstraat, in Jette, on Tuesday 13 October 2026, Brussels. Credit: Belga/James Arthur Gekiere
Belgium’s other party leaders paid unanimous tribute to Agent Nordine on Tuesday, offering condolences to his family and colleagues.
“Thank you to these men and women who put their lives at risk to protect ours. And absolute shame on those who keep trotting out their foul slogans against the police. It is not the police who kill, but the thugs and criminals,” said MR leader Georges-Louis Bouchez.
“Every day, men and women risk their lives to ensure our safety. We owe them respect and gratitude. Violence has no place in our society. And when it strikes those whose mission is to protect us, it is all the more intolerable,” commented his counterpart from Les Engagés, Yvan Verougstraete.
PS leader Paul Magette emphasised that “being a police officer will never be a job like any other. Last night’s tragedy reminds us that men and women risk their lives every day fighting crime to ensure the safety of us all.”
Wishing strength and courage to the family and colleagues of the deceased police officer, the president of the PTB-PVDA, Raoul Hedebouw, stated that “no one should die at their workplace”.
Sophie Rohonyi (DéFI) said: “The courage, commitment and dedication of the deceased police officer deserve our deepest respect, as do all those who work every day to ensure our safety at the risk of their own lives.”
