28 March 2012
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Belgium
Dramatic
footage released of Antwerp police killing arrestee
27.02.2013
Jonathan Jacob was a 26 year old
inhabitant of Antwerp with psychiatric problems. In January 2010
he died while in police custody after a police unit of 6 officers
from the special assistance team (Bijzonder Bijstandsteam, BBT)
invaded his cell and physically attacked him. Before invading
the cell, they had thrown a tear-gas grenade inside.
The Belgian TV programme Panorama on the public channel Canvas has shown footage of the beating from inside the police station. The footage was given to the programme by the father of the victim, who is now being prosecuted for releasing the material while court procedures are ongoing.
None of the policemen from the special team have been reprimanded and are all still working for the police force. One member of the BBT is however being prosecuted in a court case, as is the director of a psychiatric ward who refused to receive the victim. [1]
The programme that originally aired the footage on television can be viewed online here. The video can also be seen on YouTube: Police SWAT force beats naked prisoner to death (18+)
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