Articles by Pieter Haeck

Government & Politics

Israel-Hamas war poses long-term security threat, Belgian minister warns Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden tells POLITICO ‘flammability’ will likely continue even beyond any ceasefire.

January 2, 2024   

(Politico) The Israel-Hamas war has created a long-term threat to European security that is likely to last beyond any ceasefire, Belgium’s Interior Minister Annelies Verlinden has warned. Several countries, including Belgium, have raised their security threat level after terror attacks carried out […]

Government & Politics

Belgium’s terror attack blunders tarnish its upcoming EU presidency Tunisia reveals that it had previously requested the extradition of gunman Abdesalem Lassoued — but that a prosecutor allowed the request to collect dust.

October 29, 2023   

(Politico) Belgium had big plans for its upcoming Council presidency. But its handling of the October 16 shooting spree by Tunisian gunman Abdesalem Lassoued, which left two Swedish football supporters dead, has since led to a series of embarrassing revelations. Lassoued was […]

Government & Politics

Belgian officials knew all about Brussels terror attack gunman — but were unable to stop him Tunisian shooter’s profile sheds light on Belgium’s security failures.

October 18, 2023 and   

(Politico) Belgian authorities were well aware of the gunman who caused terror in Brussels — and yet he was still able to shoot two people dead. The attacker — who killed two Swedish football fans on Monday evening — had been on the authorities’ […]

Government & Politics

Belgium swaps convicted terrorist to free aid worker jailed in Iran ‘Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,’ PM Alexander De Croo says.

May 26, 2023 , and   

(Politico) Iran has released Olivier Vandecasteele, a Belgian humanitarian worker who had been detained in Iran for more than a year, in exchange for convicted terrorist Assadollah Assadi, who had been imprisoned in Belgium. “Olivier Vandecasteele is on his way to Belgium,” […]