Wanted Belgian fugitive arrested after police assault abroad

Guardia Civil officers have arrested a Belgian man in the Almería area after Belgium issued a European arrest warrant over a serious hit-and-run attack on a police officer in his home country.

The suspect was located in San Juan de los Terreros, in the municipality of Pulpí, where officers say he had been hiding after crossing into Spain. Police said the arrest was made once the court authorisation was in place, reducing the risk of him disappearing again.

According to the Guardia Civil, Belgian authorities allege that the man drove into the officer and caused serious injuries. They also say he was wanted on suspicion of attempted homicide.

The arrest came after international police cooperation alerted officers in Spain that the suspect may have fled to the area. Once he was identified, officers moved in and detained him without further incident.

European warrant used to track suspect

The case was being pursued under a European Arrest Warrant, the mechanism used between EU countries to secure the arrest and handover of suspects wanted for serious offences. In this case, the warrant was linked to the Belgian investigation into the attack on the officer.

The Guardia Civil said the operation prevented a further risk of flight. No other details about the original incident in Belgium, including when or where it took place, were included in the material released on Friday.

For more on the use of European warrants in cross-border police work, see our previous coverage of a separate Guardia Civil arrest in a coastal drugs probe.