BELGIUM — Two Albanian nationals are among three people arrested over the alleged kidnapping and hostage-taking of a 40-year-old man in Belgium.
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According to the Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office, the incident began on August 17, when the victim was driving in Puurs-Sint-Amands. Three masked men allegedly blocked his vehicle, posed as police officers wearing orange armbands and forcibly put him in the trunk of their car.
Witnesses photographed the vehicle’s license plate, allowing investigators to discover that the car had been stolen. Police subsequently used the ANPR license-plate recognition system to track its movements toward Charleroi, where the victim was allegedly being held.
After several days of intensive investigation, police rescued the man on August 21. Authorities said he was in good health despite the ordeal.
Police later carried out searches in Antwerp, Brussels and Sint-Gillis, arresting three suspects: two Albanian nationals, aged 27 and 42, and a 44-year-old Belgian citizen.
Two suspects have had their pre-trial detention confirmed, while a decision regarding the continued detention of the third suspect is pending.
The investigation is ongoing and all three suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court.