Man held after Belgian court killings

Belgian police have arrested a man suspected of shooting dead a judge and a clerk in a courtroom in central Brussels yesterday…

Belgian police have arrested a man suspected of shooting dead a judge and a clerk in a courtroom in central Brussels yesterday.

The man, armed with a gun, was overpowered in a Brussels park between the royal palace and parliament late yesterday.

Prosecutors said he had admitted killing the 61-year-old female judge in revenge for his eviction from an apartment three years ago following a rent dispute. A 59-year-old clerk was also killed.

"The investigation will have to determine whether the man was mentally ill," said prosecution spokesman Jean-Marc Meilleur. He declined to comment on the nationality of the man, who will be questioned further today.

It was the first time a judge had been killed in a Belgian court, the justice minister said.

Reuters

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter