Speaking in an interview with the Brussels regional news site Brusselnieuws.be, the Mayor of Sint-Gillis Charles Picqué (Francophone socialist) said “We are becoming more and more convinced that he has exaggerated. It is becoming increasingly evident that the young man also acted violently. We plan to lodge a complaint against him. One of the officers that was involved in the incident’s injuries were such that he was unable to work for 4 or 5 days.”

Elliot James Meredith claims that he was physically abused and humiliated by police in Sint-Gillis on Saturday night. He also alleges that he was forced to sign a false statement.

Mr Meredith’s solicitor has spoken of torture and said that the incident was so serious that he would lodge a complaint directly with an examining magistrate.