In the Rodenbachstraat in Merksplas, in the Noorderkempen, 19-year-old Jarne Pire died on Saturday morning after he was presumably stabbed by Peter V., the ex-boyfriend (44) of his mother (43). His 22-year-old sister was seriously injured. The perpetrator, who is clearly not the father of Jarne and his sister, had entered their home and then held his ex hostage for hours. Around noon, the police were able to overpower the man. He appears to be known for several facts and was released under certain conditions, the public prosecutor confirms.
The police received a report around 5.45 am that a man had entered the house in Rodenbachstraat and immediately arrived on the scene in large numbers. The area was cordoned off and the house was surrounded by neighbors’ gardens. The perpetrator was presumably armed with a knife, but it is not clear yet. Nearby can be heard that it was a machete.
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It is certain that Jarne Pire, the 19-year-old son of the perpetrator’s ex, was killed. He may have tried to protect his mother and had to pay for it. Peter V. then took Jarne’s mother to the attic. The police decided to enlist the help of the special units of the federal police and negotiations were started through a mediator. Jarne’s sister and his mother’s new boyfriend, a 50-year-old man, were able to escape earlier.
Hard worker
Jarne had been working for a screeding company for about two years. “This news hit us hard,” says his employer. “Jarne started working for us immediately after his school career, about two years ago. He was still in training with us. A quiet but hard worker. After a minor work accident, he was now home for three weeks. Did I ever hear of any problems? No, nothing… All of this is a huge shock.”
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Jarne’s sister, in her twenties, was able to escape and rang the doorbell of several neighbours. One man, who lives just down the road, was just about to leave for work. “I saw her, completely panicked,” it sounds. “She wept and called… She was already on the phone with emergency services.” Jarne’s sister had many stab wounds, according to the neighbor. “She was covered in blood,” he sighs. “She was staunching one of those injuries with a sheet or towel. She had a very big wound on her neck… She shouted, “Someone in with a sword, a machete. I think my brother is dead’. Those are traumas for life… It looked like she really saw her brother being killed.” The man let the young woman sit with him for a while until emergency services arrived. “You never expect something like this to happen around here. I’m not good at it…”
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When we opened the door, we were immediately told not to go outside. The atmosphere was very tense
“As if you were in a movie”, neighbor Dirk Herrijgers looks back heavily impressed. “All those sirens wake you up… And when you opened the door, you were immediately told not to go outside. The atmosphere was very tense.”
The other neighbors are also shocked. Veerle Thyssen, who lives in the nearby Bevrijdingsstraat, received a phone call from the police around 6.30 am. “They asked very politely if they could go into my garden,” she says. “Because there was a hostage situation going on… Very bad what happened here, I don’t wish this on anyone. I know the mother too, a lovely woman.” The police went through Veerle’s garden to another neighbor’s garden. They wanted to prevent the hostage-taker from fleeing from behind. “We have seen how they arrested him. He was immediately blindfolded…”
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Motive unknown
Peter V., who is not the father of the fatal victim and his sister, was indeed arrested after long negotiations. That happened around 11.40 am by special units of the police. His motive is currently unknown. However, the public prosecutor confirms that he is known for several offenses and was paroled. Although it is not said what facts this is about.
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After the hostage crisis, the house was checked by the fire brigade to make sure that no “dangerous situations were left behind”. In the meantime, an investigating judge has also been requested for murder, attempted murder and unlawful deprivation of liberty. “The suspect, in his forties, will be arraigned on Sunday,” said Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office.
Mayor Frank Wilrycx (Liveable Merksplas) is shocked: “These horrific events took place in an otherwise very quiet neighbourhood. This news hits like a bomb… Many young families live here. It is terrible for a young man to have to die in such a way. My thoughts are with his family and friends. This is indescribable.”
Later in the day some neighbors and friends came to lay flowers at the house. “We are deeply moved by what has happened,” said Tinne Walder of the local neighborhood committee. “This is very close. We don’t know the family — who have lived here for about two years — personally, but we do want to put a heart to the next of kin.”
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