Child (11) fatally hit by bullet when shooting at home in Merksem: “Affected families are known in the drug world” | Child (11) dies during shooting in Merksem

Unknown perpetrators opened fire on the garage door of the house with number 74 in Nieuwdreef around 6:30 p.m. last night. Behind that gate was a living space, with a makeshift kitchen. “Some children of the family who live there were in that room,” said mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) yesterday evening at VTM News. Despite efforts by local residents, the young victim later died of her injuries. It is known from a good source that the girl was hit by one bullet, although the police cannot confirm this for the time being.

Two other people who were also present in the living room were injured. Those injuries wouldn’t hurt. The affected house is inhabited by members of the El B. and El J. families, both of whom are known in the drug world. For example, son Mohamed El J. was previously convicted in drug files.

Three bullet impacts were provisionally counted in the garage door, the shell casings could be found on the street. Nieuwdreef was also completely closed off shortly after the incident, so that employees of the forensic lab and a ballistics expert can conduct their investigation. Meanwhile, a magistrate has been charged with murder. The police also combed the adjacent Runcvoort Park. A witness would have seen people there. The house itself is now also guarded by heavily armed officers.

The facts seem more than likely to take place within the drug environment, just like many similar attacks in recent months. The research has yet to confirm this, but for mayor De Wever it already seems certain. “The affected family is known,” said the mayor. “There have been incidents with it before. So this looks like, again, a reckoning in the drug world. There is a drug war going on, with criminals attacking the homes of other criminals. We have been going through that for months now and what I feared for a long time has now happened. An innocent victim has fallen. A child.”

The drama can only be an incentive for De Wever to multiply the efforts against drug violence that are needed at national and international level. De Wever fears even more violence. He does not want to speculate, but according to the mayor it is not excluded that people will now want to take revenge for the death of the child. “The Netherlands has already learned: if there are deaths, then there will be more deaths afterwards,” it was said in VTM NEWS.

As a result of the shooting, Vlaams Belang wants to convene the city council in Antwerp early. “Hopefully this unfortunate low point will make everyone, across party lines, realize that we have to shift up a gear in the fight against the drug mafia,” says VB municipal councilor Filip Dewinter. “Both the city council and the federal government should make this an absolute priority and enlist the help of the military.”

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