The deadly attack by a radical Islamist on a police officer in Brussels on November 10 has become a state affair and two ministers were on the defensive during an emergency session of the Belgian Parliament on Monday November 14.
One, Vincent Van Quickenborne, Minister of Justice, ” offered support” to the police unions to see “what can be done better” to ensure the protection of the police. The other, Annelies Verlinden, who is responsible for Home Affairs, advocated “serenity” and a refusal to add “hate to hate”.
(…) The attack quickly led to many questions and demands for resignation. This was because the perpetrator had sought psychological help in the morning to prevent himself from committing an attack out of “hatred” for the police, as he had stated in a police station in his neighbourhood.
When he was taken to hospital, he managed to escape without the knowledge of the police before he was attended to. Hospital services said they had not been told that he was dangerous, implying that they could have acted differently in relation to him. Judges, relying on procedures that have since been questioned, stated that Yassine Mahi was not allowed to be arrested or forcibly placed under observation despite his threats and reputation as a manipulator. (…) Le Monde