A late-night confrontation at the Port of Antwerp took a violent turn Friday when a 19-year-old Dutchman allegedly aimed his car at a police officer in a brazen escape attempt. He didn’t get far.
Maritime police, acting on suspicion, flagged down a vehicle near the port — but instead of hitting the brakes, the driver reportedly hit the gas and swerved straight into one of the officers. The chilling act has landed him in hot water, facing serious charges of attempted murder and drug trafficking.
He wasn’t alone, either. Two teenagers, both just 16, were riding with him and were swiftly taken into custody. After facing a youth court judge, both minors were placed in a secure juvenile facility.
The incident unfolded in one of Europe’s busiest and most notorious gateways for narcotics — Antwerp’s sprawling port, long eyed by Latin American drug cartels as a prime entry point for illicit shipments.
An investigating judge has since approved the 19-year-old’s detention, as authorities dig deeper into what appears to be another dark chapter in the port’s entanglement with organized crime.
