Crime lab set on fire to destroy evidence

Attackers rammed a car through the gates of Belgium’s crime institute early yesterday and set fire to a lab containing crime scene samples, apparently in an effort to destroy evidence, Brussels prosecutors said.

As the blaze in the north Brussels suburb erupted, residents heard at least one explosion and Belgian media reported a bomb attack, but investigators said the noise was probably materials going up in flames.

Belgium has been on high alert since coordinated suicide bombings at the Brussels airport and subway on March 22 killed 32 people, and security forces remain on standby for another attack.

Prosecutors said five people were detained and taken in for questioning after the incident, which happened at about 2am in NederOver-Heembeek. No one was injured.

“It’s probably not terrorism. It’s a criminal act,” said Ine Van Wymersch, a spokeswoman for the Brussels prosecutor’s office. “I cannot confirm that there was any bomb.”

The forensic facility assists Belgium’s justice authorities in carrying out their investigations and the lab contains DNA samples found at crime scenes.