Dutch suspect denies firing gun that killed Antwerp girl, 11; Will fight extradition

A 25-year-old man from the Netherlands is suspected of orchestrating the deadly January 9, 2023, attack in Antwerp that killed an 11-year-old girl. Soeradj S. has been detained for almost three months and appeared on Thursday in Amsterdam before the International Legal Assistance Chamber (IRK), which will rule on his extradition.

S. was taken into custody under a European arrest warrant at the request of Belgian authorities, who are seeking his extradition.

S. denies any involvement in the shooting at a house on Nieuwdreef in Antwerp’s Merksem district. Bullets from an AK-47 pierced the garage door, hitting a kitchen where the family was dining. An 11-year-old girl was killed, while her father, 58, and her 13 and 18-year-old sisters sustained minor injuries. The girl was a niece of Belgian drug lord Othman E.B.

“I feel very upset that I have been held in pretrial detention for nearly three months despite being innocent,” S. told the judges. “This is a very difficult situation, and I hope my innocence is established soon.”

The Amsterdam court did not examine the substance of the case, focusing solely on whether the legal requirements for extradition are fulfilled. S.’s lawyer argues they are not, citing severe concerns over Belgian detention conditions. Overcrowded prisons reportedly force detainees to sleep on the floor.

The Amsterdam court shares these concerns. The IRK requested assurances from Belgium that S. would not have to sleep on the floor if extradited, the presiding judge said. Belgian authorities confirmed that he would be held in Turnhout prison with a proper bed, access to medical care, and the ability to take part in activities.

S.’s lawyer noted that Turnhout prison experienced a staff strike in February and argued that safety would not be guaranteed if her client had to share a cell. The prison is at 118 percent capacity, with 50 inmates sleeping on the floor. “Every square meter is taken,” she said, warning of potential violence against staff and between inmates. “Ensuring safety is of paramount importance,” she stressed to the judges.

The International Legal Assistance Chamber (IRK) is set to decide on S.’s extradition on March 19.