Car Owner Arrested in Separate Case After Brussels Police Killing
The owner of the car involved in the fatal shooting of Belgian police inspector Nordine El Talbi has been arrested in a separate drug investigation, according to Brussels news outlet BRUZZ.
The 35-year-old man from Anderlecht was arrested by the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office on Thursday, October 15, on suspicion of possessing drugs with the intent to sell them.
Authorities have stressed that he is not suspected of involvement in El Talbi’s death and is not among the six suspects detained in the murder investigation.
Car Was Stolen During a Carjacking in Tubize
The vehicle was stolen during a carjacking in Tubize, south of Brussels. The owner reportedly contacted the local police in the West Brabant Wallon area himself to report the theft.
Police later tracked the stolen vehicle to Jette, a municipality in Brussels. Inspector Nordine El Talbi, 41, was investigating the vehicle when he was fatally shot during the night of October 12-13.
A significant quantity of drugs was found inside the car, according to Belgian media reports. The discovery led authorities to open a separate case concerning suspected drug-related offenses.
However, the presence of drugs in the vehicle does not, by itself, establish that the owner was responsible for them.
Court to Review the Owner’s Detention
The 35-year-old man was scheduled to appear before the Brussels council chamber on Tuesday, October 20. The court is responsible for deciding whether his pretrial detention should continue.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office has not released further details about the separate case.
Meanwhile, the investigation into El Talbi’s death continues. Six suspects have been detained in connection with the police inspector’s killing, and investigators are working to establish each person’s alleged role.
The two investigations remain separate, and the car owner’s arrest over suspected drug offenses should not be confused with the murder case.
