Several cases of drink spiking and rape in Kortrijk

Eleven women have recently filed complaints about drink spiking and rape in the nightlife of Kortrijk, West Flanders province. Drink spiking involves secretly adding a drug to an alcoholic drink without the owner of the drink knowing, usually with the intention of assaulting, raping or robbing the victim.

On Thursday, it was revealed that since May 2023, seven women have filed complaints after being drink spiked in the nightlife of Kortrijk. The victims woke up the next day without knowing what had happened, but they noticed that they had been raped. They realised this because bruises could be seen all over their bodies and they even suffered from vaginal and anal bleeding, the West Flanders public prosecutor's office reported.

The charges clearly set something in motion, as on Friday four new reports came in from women who declared that a narcotic had been put in their drinks in Kortrijk. ​ Most of the victims in Kortrijk were drugged in the city's nightlife district, but narcotics were also put in drinks in other youth pubs. It mostly involved an almond-flavoured shot, similar to amaretto.

Toxicologist Jan Tytgat of KU Leuven university explained to newspaper De Morgen that three substances are used for drink spiking: benzodiazepines or sleep aids, liquid ecstasy and ketamine. Hair analyses show that the latter was used to drug the victims in Kortrijk.

“As a victim, it’s very difficult to notice if something has been put in your drink because the substances are often colourless and tasteless,” said Tytgat. “Sometimes the bartender is in on it, as was the case in Brussels a few years ago.” He advises to always hold on to your drink yourself and let it be touched only by other people that you can trust 200 per cent.

Four suspects were already arrested in Kortrijk. Two of them were in the meantime released with conditions. One already had an ankle bracelet for previous offences. The other suspect was released without conditions after interrogation.

^{#FlandersNewsService | People having drinks in a bar in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP}