The protester who attacked Police Commissioner Vandersmissen during the national demonstration on Tuesday, acknowledged the facts, said the Public Prosecutor’s Department of Brussels on Thursday in a communiqué. T.F., aged 43, spontaneously made himself present before police on Wednesday after having recognized himself in wanted person notice issued by the Federal Police. He does not have a criminal record and is not known to the justice system, stated the Public Prosecutor’s Department.
At the end of his hearing, the individual was summoned, based on a police report, to appear before the 50th Criminal Court of Brussels which shall sit this coming June 17th. He will answer to charges of armed rebellion, carrying and using a restricted weapon, and intentional assault and battery causing work disability of a law enforcement agent. He has been discharged in the meantime.
Photos of the Belga agency taken on Tuesday when the national demonstration was ending show the suspect assaulting Police Commissioner Pierre Vandersmissen. When singlehandedly trying to push back rioters, wearing no helmet and using teargas spray, the police officer was hit violently in the back of the head. Having fallen unconscious, he was taken to hospital and will be on medical leave at the very least until June 1st. His condition seems however comforting, as revealed in a photo in which he appeared on Wednesday in the company of the Minister of the Interior.
(Source: Belga)
