Belgian police, with the support of international structures, carried out a large-scale operation to detain a criminal group suspected of participating in a series of armed bank robberies. The special operation took place on the night of April 22, 2025, and covered not only the territory of Belgium, but also France. As a result, 12 people were arrested. The authorities stated that some of the detainees had previously come to the attention of the police, and some of them have convictions for similar crimes.
According to preliminary data, the group acted in an organized manner and planned the attacks in advance. Investigators assume that this was a cross-border criminal network that operated for several months. The participants used disguises, forged documents and cars with false license plates. The robberies were carried out with the use of firearms, which increased the level of danger for bank employees and visitors.
During searches of the suspects’ homes, the police seized:
- Large amounts of cash
- Weapons and ammunition
- Communications and digital media
- Fake IDs
- Clothing and equipment used during the raids
It is particularly emphasized that the operation was made possible by the well-coordinated interaction between Belgian and French law enforcement agencies, as well as the coordination of Eurojust. Representatives of the department stated that this operation is a clear example of effective international cooperation in the fight against transnational crime.
The investigation is ongoing. The police do not rule out that additional arrests will be made in the near future. Investigators are checking the involvement of those arrested in other similar crimes in EU countries.
