Two-year-old girl dies after police chase van carrying refugees in Belgium
Inquiry launched to determine whether police action contributed to death
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A two-year-old girl has died after a van carrying around 30 Kurdish refugees was chased by armed police in Belgium.
Police said the girl died soon after the van was stopped in a village near the town of Mons.
After the van collided with another vehicle the occupants emerged and a scuffle broke out between them and the police, during which shots were fired, according to the BBC.
The police fired on the van in an effort to get it to stop, The Guardian said, citing a source.
However, prosecutors have stressed the girl was not hit by gunfire.
Belgian media reports said the girl, who was accompanied by her mother, had been held out of the window in an apparent attempt to deter the police.
Police found 26 adults, three children and the body of the girl inside the van. The occupants were arrested and will be questioned at a local police station.
A post mortem examination into the girl's death will be conducted.
An inquiry has also been established to determine whether police action had contributed to the girl's death.
The Guardian's source told the newspaper the refugees had recently been deported to Germany but had returned to Belgium, from where they were planning to make their way to the UK.
Police attempted to stop the van because it was being driven in a strange manner, they said. It was also found to be carrying false number plates.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments