Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, Nov 29, 2025, around 2 p.m., a 36-year-old driver fled police in Bilzen, Tongeren, and Hasselt. He attempted to hit officers, was arrested, charged with attempted manslaughter, and released under strict conditions.
As HLN News reported, on Saturday afternoon, Nov 29, 2025, around 2 p.m., a police chase unfolded in Bilzen and the surrounding area, in the province of Limburg, Belgium. Officers from the Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst police zone noticed a car with a defective taillight. When they tried to stop the driver for a routine check, he immediately fled. The pursuit stretched into Tongeren, with the suspect making several attempts to avoid police.
The car finally stopped at a red light in Tongeren. One officer got out of the passenger side to approach the driver. Suddenly, the suspect drove straight toward him. The officer managed to jump back just in time. The police car was grazed during the incident, but no one was injured.
“The driver tried to drive into the officers. The officers were able to duck just in time,”
said Pieter Strauven of the Limburg Public Prosecutor’s Office.
What happened during the 36-year-old driver’s police chase in Limburg?
After leaving Tongeren, the driver fled again toward Hasselt. The chase grew more serious as night shift teams from the LRH and Haspengouw police zones joined in. During the pursuit, a 2nd collision was narrowly avoided. The drive ended in Beverst, where the man’s car stopped against a wall.
The 36-year-old driver was taken into custody and appeared in court that same afternoon, Nov 29, 2025. He is facing charges of attempted manslaughter and armed resistance. Although the incidents took place in the Tongeren district, the Hasselt investigating judge on duty handled the case. After the hearing, the man was released under very strict conditions while the investigation continues. Police confirmed that the inquiry is still ongoing and the case remains under close supervision.
The chase happened in a region served by the Bilzen-Hoeselt-Riemst police zone, which was formed on 1 January 2025 after the merger of the Bilzen and Hoeselt municipalities. The police regularly carry out traffic checks and road safety operations.
In 2024, the zone recorded thousands of traffic and criminal incidents. Across Belgium, overall crime dropped in 2024, with about 902,000 crimes reported, but dangerous traffic incidents and chases still occur.
