Man with assault rifle arrested in Marolles district of Brussels
A man carrying an assault rifle was arrested during a police check in the Marolles district of Brussels on Wednesday evening, VRT News reported and the Brussels public prosecutor's office confirmed.
Earlier reports said the man was in possession of a Kalashnikov, but it turned out to be a different model of automatic rifle. It is not yet clear if there is a link to the several shootings that took place in the area in recent days.
The man was arrested on Rue des Tonneliers in Brussels at around 16.45 on Wednesday, according to prosecution spokesperson Yasmina Vanoverschelde.
"The man was behaving suspiciously and the police decided to intercept and check him. At the time of the arrest, the man was in possession of a SIG-Manurhin firearm. The weapon found was not loaded," said Vanoverschelde.
The Brussels public prosecutor's office was informed and asked the laboratory of the federal judicial police to analyse the weapon. The arrested man was brought before the investigating judge and arrested for illegal possession of weapons.
"At the moment, it is not clear whether these facts can be linked or connected to the shootings in Brussels in the last few days," said Vanoverschelde. "The investigation will have to show that. In the interest of the investigation, the Brussels prosecutor's office will not comment further in this case."
Illustrative image © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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