Two Arrested in Connection with 11-Year-Old’s Murder in Antwerp Drug Violence Case

More than a year later, the investigation into Ferdaous’ murder is progressing. On Tuesday, "the Federal Judicial Police of Antwerp carried out three searches in the Mechelen and Brussels areas. During these searches, two people were arrested and are currently being questioned by the police," said Kato Belmans, from the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office. These are a 53-year-old woman from Putte and a 21-year-old man from Brussels, both presented as intermediaries. They were not present during the shooting that cost Ferdaous her life in Merksem in January 2023.

The fifty-year-old had already been arrested last summer at her home in Putte, where heavy weapons, several magazines, ammunition of different calibers, an active grenade, but also clothing from the port of Antwerp were discovered. The kidnapping of a 29-year-old farmer’s son in Putte, highlighting cocaine trafficking and violations of weapons legislation, had led to her arrest. Investigators stumbled upon 100 kg of cocaine hidden in a chicken coop along the Liersebaan in Putte. Nearby, a sports bag containing an AK-47, corresponding ammunition and torture equipment were also discovered.

The fifty-year-old was released at the end of last year with an electronic bracelet, before being arrested again on Tuesday. During the search of her home, investigators found one of the weapons used in the attack in Merksem. Is it really one of the weapons used during the attack? War ammunition had been used at that time, and in Putte, war weapons were found, the public prosecutor’s office specifies. Meanwhile, the investigation into the masterminds of the crime continues, the identity of the shooter still being unknown.