Family Demands Answers in Brussels Teen’s Death After Police Car Collision

Everyone will be dressed in white for this peaceful march organized in memory of Mehdi. On this occasion, the members of the teenager’s family will deliver a speech.

"We don’t want his death to be classified as a simple incident. He was a young person, a minor. He was not fully aware of everything and he died suddenly. We would like to know the truth about his death, because we have not had any explanation. Afterwards, we would like to obtain justice for him. He left too soon. Despite what can be said, he is the victim [...]," said Ayoub Bouda, 24, Mehdi’s older brother.

The family has brought the case before the competent courts. Thus, a judicial investigation for involuntary manslaughter has been opened, as specified by the Spokesperson of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, Stéphanie Lagasse.

On Tuesday, August 20, a car from the Brussels-Ixelles police zone, on its way to an intervention on Rue Ravenstein in Brussels where a burglary had occurred, hit Mehdi around 11:50 p.m.

Belga reported that he had evaded a police check, carried out as part of an operation to combat drug trafficking around the Mont des Arts.

In his flight, he was pursued by police officers when the accident occurred. After several resuscitation attempts, the 17-year-old teenager succumbed to his injuries. For now, an investigation is still ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy.