Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) October 27, 2026 – A 36-year-old man from Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium, appeared before the criminal court in Nivelles following a sequence of criminal acts involving an attempted supermarket robbery with an underpants mask, arson, and the theft of a hearse. The individual attempted to rob a Carrefour Market using an electric meat knife blade before setting fire to his clothing and fleeing to Brussels in a stolen funeral vehicle. Belgian prosecutors have requested an 18-month prison sentence, with the final court verdict scheduled for 17 November 2026.
- How Did the Supermarket Robbery Attempt Unfold in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium?
- How Did the Suspect Steal the Getaway Hearse and Evade Initial Capture in Belgium?
- How Was the Suspect Apprehended by Law Enforcement in Brussels, Belgium?
- What Charges and Legal Proceedings Does the Accused Face in a Belgian Court?
The events commenced between 13 July and 14 July when the 36-year-old suspect left a local Belgian hospital without authorization. Despite a court order prohibiting him from contacting his partner, the suspect went to her residence in Braine-l’Alleud, located south of Brussels, Belgium. While at the flat, he retrieved a blade from an old electric meat knife, which he subsequently utilized as a weapon.
The suspect then proceeded to a nearby Carrefour Market supermarket in Belgium. In an attempt to conceal his identity and cover his tattoos, he placed underwear over his head and wore a jumper.
How Did the Supermarket Robbery Attempt Unfold in Braine-l’Alleud, Belgium?
Upon entering the Carrefour Market, the suspect approached the checkout area and confronted a 16-year-old student working as a cashier. Wielding the blade of the electric meat knife, he threatened the teenager, claiming he knew her residential address in Belgium and would track her down if she did not hand over the cash from the till.
As reported by Harry Dennis of Euro Weekly News, the young cashier refused to comply with the demand and did not hand over any money. Unsuccessful in his attempt, the suspect exited the Belgian supermarket without taking any funds. Belgian court disclosures revealed that the cashier suffered severe emotional distress from the encounter and continues to require medication to sleep.
How Did the Suspect Steal the Getaway Hearse and Evade Initial Capture in Belgium?
Following the failed extortion attempt at the Belgian supermarket, the suspect entered the hallway of a residential building, where he set fire to his own clothing.
While in the area, he located an unattended hearse. Stealing the vehicle, he discovered bank cards remaining inside the cabin. The suspect subsequently used the stolen payment cards to purchase cigarettes at two separate petrol stations in Belgium. Security surveillance cameras at both service stations recorded his presence during these transactions.
Using the stolen hearse as a getaway vehicle, the man drove from Braine-l’Alleud to a neighborhood in Brussels, Belgium, for the purpose of purchasing cocaine.
How Was the Suspect Apprehended by Law Enforcement in Brussels, Belgium?
Belgian law enforcement officers tracked the movements of the stolen hearse to the Brussels district. Police officers established a perimeter and waited near the vehicle while the suspect completed his narcotics transaction.
When the suspect returned to the parked hearse, waiting Belgian police officers immediately took him into custody without further incident.
What Charges and Legal Proceedings Does the Accused Face in a Belgian Court?
Currently held in custody in Belgium, the 36-year-old defendant appeared before the criminal court in Nivelles, Belgium, on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. The formal charges levied against him under Belgian law include:
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Attempted extortion
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Assault
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Arson
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Carrying an illegal weapon
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Motor vehicle theft
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Possession of cocaine
During the court proceedings in Belgium, the defendant admitted to almost all the physical actions attributed to him. However, he testified that he had limited memory of the specific details due to being in a dazed state at the time of the offenses.
Belgian public prosecutors submitted a formal request for an 18-month prison sentence. The defense attorney representing the suspect described the proposed 18-month sentence as reasonable under the circumstances. The presiding judge in Nivelles, Belgium, is scheduled to issue the final verdict on Tuesday, 17 November 2026.
