Family held hostage while mother forced to empty bank safe

A family was held hostage for hours by three robbers at their home in Ternat, Flemish Brabant, on Wednesday, Het Nieuwsblad reports. The wife and mother, who works at an ATM supply company, was forced to empty a bank’s safe at gunpoint. The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor’s office has confirmed the events but has not commented further.

The man told the newspaper that three masked and armed men entered the family home and threatened the woman and two children. When the man came home himself shortly after, he was struck and tied up.

The woman works for a company responsible for stocking cash machines. Two of the suspects forced her to drive to a branch of ING bank in Molenbeek in Brussels while the man and children were locked in a room in their home. A third man searched the property and took jewellery, watches and cash.

At the bank, the woman had to call security company Brinks to obtain the code for the safe. She was able to alert a colleague and their manager, who advised her to hand over the money. The amount has not been confirmed. 

Meanwhile, the police were notified and raided the family home. The robber had fled but his accomplices were caught in Brussels. One of the men is reported to have said they needed the money to rescue a friend from a gang in Anderlecht.

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