Insufficient evidence to link Dutch suspects to Belgian Minister's attempted abduction

Six Dutch suspects will not be prosecuted for attempting to abduct former Belgian Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne. The Belgian Public Prosecution Service could not find enough evidence to prosecute them for that crime. They will still be prosecuted for illegal weapons possession and participation in a criminal organization, the federal prosecutor’s office confirmed to the Belgian broadcaster VRT NWS.

The former Minister escaped an abduction attempt at his home in Kortrijk in September 2022. The Belgian authorities found a car with Dutch license plates and weapons inside at his home and took Van Quickenborne and his family to a safe house.

The Belgian authorities quickly arrested four Dutch suspects for the attempted abduction. During police interrogation, they denied knowing anything about a drug-world-related plan to abduct the former Minister, Het Nieuwsblad reported. One suspect said he was paid 500 euros to take the car to Kortrijk, not knowing about the weapons inside. The other three maintined they were on their way to a night out in Antwerp, about 100 kilometers away. They did not explain why they were at the Minister’s house.

Two other Dutch were arrested later. The authorities believed them to be the ones who ordered the abduction.

However, the Belgian authorities could not find enough evidence to prove these suspicions. Therefore, the attempted abduction charge was dropped against the six suspects. They are now only facing charges of illegal weapons possession and membership of a criminal organization. It is not clear when they will stand trial.