Officer charged after fatal police chase of 11-year-old Fabian
The police officer who struck and killed 11-year-old Fabian during a chase last Monday in Ganshoren has been charged with malicious obstruction of traffic resulting in death and placed under electronic surveillance. The charge carries a possible prison sentence of up to thirty years.
Brussels public prosecutor Julien Moinil, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, stated that the incident should not be seen as an indictment of the police force as a whole. “This drama must not become the trial of the Brussels police as a whole,” he said. “The vast majority of police officers do their work very meticulously, and put their own safety at risk to protect us. They operate in Brussels in dangerous circumstances, in a very tense climate. More than once, police officers themselves have come under fire. They also have families and children of their own and their work is extremely difficult.”
“We will continue to support the police in their work; there is no question of the police as a whole are doing a bad job,” Moinil continued. “They are responsible for compliance with the laws and regulations and must be able to pursue and arrest criminals. These are very serious facts, in which a child has died, and which must be investigated independently and objectively. Far-reaching coercive measures were necessary for that investigation and there are incriminating indications, but now saying that the police are bad is a step too far.”
Findings contradict police statements
Initial findings from a traffic expert showed that the police car involved did not have its flashing lights or siren activated during the chase. This directly contradicted earlier statements made by the officers involved.
“Contrary to what the police officers involved stated in their initial interrogations, their flashing lights and sirens were not working during the chase,” said Moinil. “This is evident from the initial investigation by the traffic expert, and also corresponds with the statements of several witnesses. At the time of the collision, the police vehicle was travelling at a speed exceeding 40 km/h, and that in a park where there were pedestrians, and where vehicles are normally not allowed to drive.”
The fatal pursuit began in Koekelberg and ended in Elisabeth Park, Ganshoren. The Brussels West police zone was involved in the incident, but the investigation was quickly transferred to the federal oversight body, the P Committee. “It seemed normal to me that for such serious facts, it would not be a local police zone that would investigate another local police zone,” said Moinil. “The P Committee worked day and night to shed light on these facts as quickly as possible. An investigating judge was also appointed because it quickly became apparent that there were contradictions between the initial statements of the police officers involved and the objective findings of the investigation.”
Key evidence seized for review
As part of the investigation, authorities conducted searches and took the officers’ smartphones. “That is why, in my opinion, searches were also necessary, including to seize and examine the smartphones of the officers involved, so that we could investigate any conversations that may have taken place after the collision,” Moinil explained.
Moinil further confirmed that the boy was being chased solely for riding an electric scooter. According to the medical examiner, Fabian died after being run over by the police vehicle, with his head ending up beneath the tyres.
"Let it be clear that there is no question of the police officer having intended to kill the victim," Moinil clarified. “This is not a case of voluntary manslaughter. There was an intention to prevent the driver of the scooter from continuing his journey. In order to place someone under arrest for such acts, the investigating judge should not take into account any risk of flight, recidivism or collusion, contrary to what some people claimed earlier this morning.”
Protestors marched in Brussels following the death of 11-year-old Fabian. The silent march resulted in confrontation between protestors and police on on 8 June, 2025. © BELGA VIDEO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
Parallel investigations underway
The officer driving the vehicle remains under electronic surveillance, while the policewoman who was a passenger during the pursuit appeared before the investigating judge but was not charged and has been released.
Three key questions remain in the investigation: whether Fabian fell before being run over or was struck first, whether the police were authorised to drive through the park, and whether the officers were properly trained for this type of pursuit.
In parallel with the criminal investigation, two other probes are ongoing: one into the scooter Fabian was riding, and another into how the initial report of the accident was shared with the press.
Memorial for 11-year-old Fabian, who died last Monday after he was was chased and hit by a police car © PHOTO HANS LUCAS
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