Kidnap attempt on 8-year-old on Grand Place

A man tried to kidnap an eight-year-old girl on Saturday afternoon on Brussels’ Grand Place, the prosecutor’s office announced yesterday. A 38- year-old man already known to the judiciary for theft was made available to the prosecution. He has been referred to a judge for attempted abduction of a minor under the age of 12 and a psychiatric assessment has been ordered. The girl was walking around the Grand Place with her parents at about 16.30 when the man grabbed her by the throat and dragged her for a few metres. The girl’s parents noticed what was happening straight away and the man, who was drunk and claims he wanted money, immediately let go of her.