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Benjamin HermanOpened fire and killed four people in the Belgian city of Liege
Country:
 Belgium |
Content:
- Benjamin Herman, the Liège Shooter
- Repeated Releases on Furlough
- The Liège Massacre
- Inside the School
- Allegations of Radicalization
- Additional Victim
- Aftermath
Benjamin Herman, the Liège Shooter
Early Life and Criminal ActivityBenjamin Herman was born in 1987 and grew up in the region of Wallonia, Belgium. In 2003, at the age of 16, he was convicted of drug trafficking in Marche-en-Famenne and sentenced to prison.
Repeated Releases on Furlough
Despite his conviction, Herman was repeatedly granted furloughs from prison. Between 2014 and 2018, he was released 24 times, including 11 one-day furloughs and 13 two-day furloughs. There were no known incidents during these furloughs.
The Liège Massacre
On May 29, 2018, Herman's behavior took a sinister turn. While on a furlough to visit his grandmother, he embarked on a shooting rampage that left four people dead.
Herman approached two female police officers on Boulevard d'Avroy and stabbed them. He then seized their guns and shot them both fatally. Continuing his assault, he fatally shot a 22-year-old man sitting in a parked car before entering a nearby school.
Inside the School
Inside the school, Herman's rampage continued. He took a cleaner hostage but later released her unharmed. Armed police officers arrived and engaged in a shootout with Herman. During the confrontation, Herman wounded two officers before being shot and killed himself.
Allegations of Radicalization
Herman allegedly shouted "Allahu akbar" during the killings, leading to speculation that he had become radicalized while in prison. However, Belgian authorities did not confirm these allegations.
Additional Victim
On May 28, 2018, one day before the Liège massacre, Herman was revealed to have killed another individual. This victim's identity has not been disclosed, but Herman had previously been incarcerated with him. According to the Minister of the Interior, Herman struck the man in the head with a blunt object, causing his death.
Aftermath
The Liège massacre sent shockwaves through Belgium and raised questions about the country's prison and furlough system. Herman's repeated releases raised concerns about the potential for radicalization in prison and the ability of authorities to identify and prevent such incidents.
