Antwerp Police Arrest Sparks Investigation After Man Dies in Custody

Abderraham Akram Kadri, an Algerian residing in the Brussels central station district, was arrested on Sunday by the Antwerp police for disturbing public order. He was causing a ruckus on a cafe terrace. "Apparently under the influence of illicit substances, the man was eventually overpowered by eleven officers. The appropriate medical services were immediately contacted for his care. On the arrival of the ambulance, the man had a heart attack. He died later at the hospital," says Sven Lommaert, spokesman for the Antwerp police.

The publication on social networks of the video of the police intervention has sparked a flood of comments from Internet users who have drawn a link between this violent arrest and the one that led to the death in the United States of the African American George Floyd in May last year. In this video, we clearly see a policeman who "kept his knee on Akram’s back for at least 10 minutes".

"My son was already dead when the ambulance arrived. I saw a movie where it’s obvious. My lawyer will present these images to the investigating judge if the police do not recognize their mistake," says the victim’s mother, still in shock.

To protest against this police violence, calls have been launched under the hashtags #JusticeForAkram and #MurderinAntwerp to demonstrate on Tuesday in front of the Antwerp police headquarters. Only 300 young activists took part in this demonstration, supervised by about 150 police officers mobilized for the occasion.

An investigation has been opened by the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office to determine the exact circumstances of the young man’s death. For the time being, the blood tests carried out during the autopsy reveal the consumption of amphetamines.

The victim was on file with the police and the justice system for drug and theft offenses. His last prison stay dates back to the end of February. According to his relatives, "he consumed all kinds of drugs and a lot of alcohol. Last month, he had tried to commit suicide by drinking ammonia".