All language subtitles for Niet schieten

A true story

To David
From Saint Martin

Yes. Here we go. Ta-da!

Go on. Go and take a look.

Here's the skirt. Look.

- What do you think?
- So cool!

Say, wouldn't it suit me?

I think it would.
Oh, can I do your make-up?

Just a little bit.

Eyes closed.

- There you go.
- Done?

One of the gang's first robberies
takes place in arms shop Dekaise.

They make off
with sophisticated firearms.

A policeman rushing to the scene,
is killed.

From 1982 onwards, Belgium is
terrorised by the Brabant Killers.

The gang becomes notorious
for its grocery store robberies.

Seven brand-new bulletproof vests
were stolen in Temse.

They were prototypes, which very
few people had knowledge about.

A night watchman
was killed in the process.

The Nijvel Gang got its name
from a deadly robbery in Nijvel.

They only took some food items,
but the human cost was great.

In 1985, the gang resurfaces,
more deadly than before.

They kill three people
at a Delhaize store in Eigenbrakel.

They get away with only 5,000 euros.

Less than half an hour later,
five people...

Less than half an hour later,
five people are killed in Overijse.

Another robbery at a Delhaize store.
They snatch just under 25,000 euros.

Police and Gendarmerie
are everywhere...

November 9, 1985

Belgium used to be known for its fries.
Now, all we have, is shootings.

There are more gangsters here
than in Marseille.

They'll catch them, Carlos.

The day before yesterday,

a couple of kids found two guns
and a balaclava in the park.

You know what the Gendarmerie did?

They told them off, and that was that.

And those items are
being investigated as we speak.

You think? By whom?
They're a bunch of amateurs.

And I don't mean those criminals.

- All done.
- Thanks.

It keeps life exciting, Carlos.

In the Congo,
we had to be on our toes 24/7.

I'd rather see those guys
up against the wall.

If I were the Minister of Justice,
I'd bring back the death penalty.

Luckily, I'm just a humble mechanic
on his way to retirement

and not the Minister of Justice.
Can I have a piece of candy?

Thanks, Albert.

David?

David? Come on, son.
We need to go.

Put that bike away.

Rebecca?

Rebecca?

You're not going dressed like that,
are you?

Yes, I am.

- Metje's present for Saint Martin.
- Shush, David might hear you.

He already knows.

He doesn't.
Go and change out of that costume.

Tsk. Don't be ridiculous.

What do I not know?

- Where did you get that knife?
- Petje's present for Saint Martin.

Right, let me do your hair.

You do it then. Don't make a mess.
Thérèse, we need to go.

Which one?

Come on.

Albert?

And?

What do you think?

- Nice. Really nice.
- The left one or the right one?

I have no other pairs that match.

- Can I drive?
- Go on then.

Get out of there.

The First Lady comes first.

How are you?

Aren't your eyes beautiful?

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
I was fourteen in 1936

when my father died and I became
the bread winner for a family of seven.

I did my duty, so unfortunately,
my studying days were over.

But later on, I met my love, Metje,
and that's how it all began.

We left for the Congo
and started our first business.

Unfortunately, we had to get
out of there quite unexpectedly

and once we got back to Aalst,
we started from scratch again.

And here we are.
49 years later, in the AARC.

And I've had enough, as you can see.

That rhymes.

But I leave with full confidence.

With his ample expertise, Gilbert is
the right man to take over the AARC.

Congratulations, Mr Director.

And the apple of my eye, Thérèse,

has been doing an excellent job
with the bookkeeping

and is taking care of the customers,
just like Metje did before her.

That's it.

Metje and I are going
back to the Congo.

Are you crazy?

We're going to enjoy ourselves,
in any case.

Where are the drinks?

Albert. Albert.

- Yes?
- Dear Albert.

Dear grandfather of my children.

Trusty companion of Metje.

And the firm but fair boss
of this great business.

And our good friend.

We all learned a lot from you.

It won't be easy to follow in your
footsteps, but we appreciate your trust.

And we'll let you go now, Albert.

But first...

Chantal?

Aalst celebrates Carnival

We party every day

And rest assured

We won't die of thirst

Aalst celebrates Carnival

We party every day

And rest assured
We won't die of thirst

Ladies and gentlemen!

Because we're all so happy
you're leaving...

I'm sure you are.

...we all pitched in for a present.

- No way.
- Yes, yes.

You can take it yourself. Go for it.
Ah, Albert.

- How embarrassing.
- Ah, yes, embarrassing. Albert.

- Here you go.
- Open it! Open it! Open it!

A month's stay at a seaside hotel.

- Let's have a drink.
- Cheers.

- David! Be careful!
- David!

- David, come on! Gilbert, do something.
- Leave him be.

David, concentrate.
Good boy. Stay calm.

- That was impressive.
- Thanks.

Yes, very impressive.

Chantal, your boobs,
are they a size F or G?

What do you think?

Double G.

How about yours?

- Double nothing.
- Hey!

Sweetie, don't worry.
You'll have a growth spurt.

- What needs to grow?
- Go away.

Smoking, are you?

David and Rebecca? Come!
You can go ahead with Metje and Petje.

- We're going to Delhaize first.
- Hurry up then.

- Come on, director.
- I want to come.

- You come with us.
- It's Saint Martin.

- Me too.
- Go on then. See you later.

See you!

- What shall I make?
- Silly question.

Tomato soup with meatballs!

Erm, the... Yes. Put it here.

See that? It's half past seven and those
two surveillance cops have packed up

while the store is still open.

How do you know they're cops?

You can tell, Metje. From a mile away.

Goddammit.

A robbery at the Aalst Delhaize store.

The kids.

I'll get them.

Come on.

Sir? Do you live nearby?
Take these kids to safety.

Get them out of danger! Go! Get out!

What about our kids?
- I'm going back.

That boy.

I've just seen him.

What about that boy?

In the parking lot. Over there.

It's horrific.

Excuse me, can I just...

My kids are over there.

Carlos?

Carlos!

I need to get to my kids.

You're a dad, aren't you?

Out of the way. This way!

That's Gilbert.

Gilbert Van de Steen.

Sir, are you okay?

Yes.

That's my daughter. Oh God.

Thérèse.

Thérèse Van Den Abiel.

How am I going to tell her?

I just can't tell her this.

And now?

Poor darling.

Rebecca...

Rebecca Van de Steen.

That must be David.

It's not him.

It's not him.

He's still in surgery.
I'll take you to the ICU waiting room.

Sister?
Hilde De Moor, investigative reporter.

No, no. No press.

Hello, my boy.

I'm here. David?

Mommy and Daddy?

Are they here, too?

Yes.

Mom and Dad are in a different hospital.

And Rebecca?

She is, too.

Go back to sleep now.

I saw them.

Yes. Of course you did.

Dammit.

Mr Van Den Abiel? Dr Rumbaut.
No, please, don't get up.

He has a very nasty gunshot wound.

The upper part of his right thigh is gone.
Veins and muscles were damaged.

He lost an incredible amount of blood.

To be fair, it is his jeans that kept
his leg together as he was brought in.

The main artery is intact. There
is some nerve activity. That's good.

We've used a steel frame
to fixate the remainder of his thigh bone

to the piece of hip bone.

The head nurse says he's a good doctor.
The best.

That's what she says.

Metje...

The pellets went right through his thigh,
ricocheted off the floor

and went back in again.

He lost five centimeters of his leg.

It's just... gone.

He asked about them.

Stay calm.
The doctor is nearly done.

- Easy.
- Don't look, David.

- Very brave. Try not to move.
- Sister, can I...

- No, not you, I want Mom and Dad!
- David, no... Take it easy. Come on.

David. David, darling.

I lied to you, son.

Mommy and Daddy are gone.

They're gone. They're dead.

And Rebecca?

She is too.

She shouted.

What did she shout?

He's gone to sleep.

She shouted...

- Petje.
- Yes?

I had a blue balloon tied to my wrist.

- David?
- I was reading a comic book.

Let's go, David.

- What's this?
- It's yummy.

- Put your hat on. It's cold outside.
- Bye.

- I'm pushing the cart.
- Hey...

- Let him do it.
- Push hard, David.

Don't shoot! He's my dad!

She shouted...

Don't shoot.

He's my dad.

To David
From Saint Martin

Mr Van Den Abiel... I'm sorry.

The front door was open.

I am Hilde De Moor.

You may not remember me,
but I saw you at the hospital.

My sincerest condolences.

Could I ask you a few questions
about the Nijvel Gang?

- I don't know anything about that gang.
- Nobody seems to know anything.

- I don't know anything, madam.
- You may know more than you think.

You are disturbing me.

But... Mr Van Den Abiel,
I am not looking for sensationalism.

The investigation is being manipulated.
It's a joke.

Your grandson survived. He's seen it all.

My grandson will not be in the papers
or on the radio or TV.

I'm asking you politely to leave
or I will call the police.

I'm leaving. Hold on, I have...

This is an overview
of all the unanswered questions,

missed opportunities, all the errors
in the case file, up until now.

I'll leave it here.

Please read it
and let me know what you think.

Sorry.

Was this what you wanted?

He... He asked for you.

- Are they wearing their clothes?
- Yes.

Your mom is wearing the white
pleated dress with the red buttons.

Your dad used to love her in that dress.

And Rebecca? The new wave dress?

The one you made for her?

Yes.

In Aalst, lights have been switched off

and shops are closed
as a sign of mourning.

The country is in shock.

It feels like war, but we don't know
who the enemy is.

All grocery stores
near a convenient get-away route,

are being guarded by paratroopers
and Gendarmerie snipers.

The Nijvel Gang's terror attacks
have forced judicial police

to buy new firearms.

Riot guns are available in order to
fight the gangsters on equal terms.

The Gendarmerie will soon have
access to new, faster vehicles too.

- Take that away.
- Darling, I...

Take it away.

- I was just looking for a place...
- I don't want it.

- Hello. Come in.
- No, no.

We just wanted to give you this.

Your grandson's belongings.

I'll be damned.

- Have a good day, sir.
- Any more news on the robbers?

My wife and I saw everything happen.
We heard the first gunshots.

We ran onto the balcony,
I called the emergency services

and I ran downstairs.

Did you see the robbers?

No, I didn't.

Look, sir, it's kind of you to offer help,
but that's not our jurisdiction.

There was a surveillance van outside.
It had been there the whole week.

Half an hour before closing time,
they suddenly just left. Disappeared.

That would astonish me,
but we'll look into it.

And when I got downstairs,
and this is very strange,

there were two heavily-armed gendarmes

holding machine guns, standing
with their backs to what was happening.

That unit happened to be in the area.

Yes, but they didn't intervene.

Look, sir, we'll look into it.

Anything else, you can call me anytime.
Ask for Sergeant Lootens.

- Thank you.
- No problem.

- Have a nice day, sir.
- Good evening.

I'll be damned.

My goodness.

We nearly lost our little boy, too. Look.

Look at that.

Metje, the Gendarmerie
may still need that.

I hope I don't wake up.

Metje, don't say things like that.

We have to move on, for David's sake.
We have to give him a new life.

Yes.

You're right.

But there is something
you need to know, Albert.

I've always been so happy.

But...

Those days are gone now.
I can't be happy anymore, Albert.

Sorry.

Albert.

Thank you, Sister.
Hello, son. What happened?

- He was here.
- Who was?

The curly one who shot me.
He was standing there, in the doorway.

He was just looking at me,
with his blue eyes

and the pimple next to his nose.

I recognized him.

I walked out, pushing the shopping cart.

What's this?
Isn't it a bit early for that?

No, it's yummy.

Bye.

I'm pushing the cart.

Don't shoot! He's my dad!

David!

Run!

The till! The money!

Don't look.

Don't look!

Close your eyes.

So...

That man's scarf dropped
and he had a pimple on his nose?

No, his scarf dropped
and he had a pimple next to his nose.

- You're saying that man was here?
- He was over there.

- Was he alone?
- Yes.

Where exactly?

- Over here?
- Yes.

- Probably... with the light off.
- No, it was on.

- I could see his pimple.
- It was on.

- Over here?
- Yes.

- Sister, do you have a minute?
- Petje, don't go.

- We'll be in the hall.
- I'm scared.

- Don't be.
- No, he'll come back.

- He won't, David.
- He will.

He won't come back.
No, David. Listen to me.

They are very bad people. You're right.
They have to be caught and punished.

And I'll make sure they will be.
But he won't come back.

Promise?

I promise.

I'll be right back.

He was in a panic.
He was screaming when I walked in.

But there was no one there.

He's on painkillers, he has nightmares.
It's only normal.

Yes, but... he's able to describe
one of those robbers in great detail.

That's not good.

That's not good.

Call the police.

Here.

That needs washing up. And...

Please go to the store.

I'm not going across the road.

Then go somewhere else,
but I need to eat, Marie-José.

Sausages, a chicken breast, I don't care.

A piece of meat, with potatoes,
cauliflower. That's all I ask.

I say...

Why are there no cars
in the parking lot?

- Customers are hesitant, I think.
- Right.

When is that one due?

Tonight.

Can't you help out?
Or is the paper telling you what to do?

- Of course.
- Guys, gather around.

Gather around, guys!

Listen up. The success of our business
has always been the result of...

hard work,
but if you're going to drag your feet,

we'll go out of business.

We'll go bust! Alright?

So it's up to you.

Either you put your heads down, take
some initiative and work like you should

or... well, nothing. Nothing.

If you make it work, we'll split the pot.

Agreed?

And thank you all
for coming to the funeral.

Chantal, got a second?

- Do you know how to turn this thing on?
- Yes, it has a button.

- I...
- Here, this one.

I want to take a look at the books.

- Our Thérèse put them on there.
- Oh my. Right...

- Do you know MS-DOS?
- MS-DOS?

- Yes, that's... Beir!
- Yes!

Do we type CD or DIR
to start the computer?

Right.

- DIR or CD?
- DIR.

No...

I know you should never type DEL.

I want all the bills, invoices and orders.

Hello, AARC. Van Den Abiel.

Yes, doctor?

We need to operate on his leg again.
- But the operation was successful.

Sure, but the wound is not healing
and he has some tissue break-down.

Are you talking about an amputation?

I can't predict anything at the moment.
I can't.

- It can't be. It mustn't be. Goddammit!
- Mr Van Den Abiel. Mr Van Den Abiel!

This sort of behavior won't help anyone.

Not us, not you, and certainly not David.

- Get a hold of yourself.
- Sorry.

You can stay with him
till he's drifted off to sleep.

- Thank you.
- The operation may take a while.

- Doctor, please save his leg.
- We'll try our best.

- I'm his grandfather. Hello.
- It's alright.

- Another operation?
- Yes.

- No. I don't want it.
- You have to.

- Stay calm.
- There's no other way.

- It will be OK.
- Stay calm.

Gentlemen, when it suits you,

would you mind putting to paper
what my grandson witnessed?

Sir, we're civilian police.
That's the Gendarmerie's jurisdiction.

Right. Thank you.

Good afternoon.

- Staff Sergeant Lootens, please.
- ID, please. You can wait over there.

- He said I could call him anytime.
- ID, please, and wait over there.

Mr Van Den Abiel?

Here you go.
Staff Sergeant Lootens isn't in.

- How about the highest in rank?
- It doesn't work that way.

- I have a fine for you, by the way.
- A fine?

You'll get it in the mail.
Your BMW was towed away in Brussels.

- I don't own a BMW.
- Is your license plate FHV715?

This is an invoice from a towing
company.

Sir, my car is parked outside.
It's a Mercedes, not a BMW.

That's strange.

I'll send a report to Brussels.

You'd better draw up a report
on what my grandson has to say.

That boy stood face to face
with one of the Nijvel Gang.

Are you familiar with
the 'Brabant Killers'?

- I'll report it, sir.
- And tell them to hurry up.

He has one operation after another.
Soon, it'll be too late.

Mr Van Den Abiel?

Walter Bas. My condolences.

I asked you to take those two children
to safety. I was in plain clothes.

I'll come and see you.
Let me know when is convenient for you.

- Thank you.
- No problem.

- It's at the Our Lady Hospital.
- Alright.

I will call you.

Albert.

I laid out your pyjamas,
so you can stay the night.

If you stay with David overnight,
I'll come in during the day.

Listen, Albert, let's agree on something.

You do what you think you have to do.
I'll make dinner, I'll do the dishes.

But leave me out of it.
I don't want to hear about it.

Not about the Nijvel Gang,
not about the robbery,

and not about the Gendarmerie.

Something else, Metje. We may run
out of money if we're not careful.

I was at the AARC. It's in a shambles.

I have to go back to work.
We'll need the money.

- We have savings, don't we?
- Ah well...

What about the funeral costs? The
hospital bills? We're not out of here yet.

And they didn't have any paperwork.
I don't get it either, but...

The kid's not insured. No insurance
company will take him on now.

How about you write a letter
to Delhaize?

A tiny piece of jeans
had remained in the wound.

We got it out. And we removed
another three lead fragments.

We can't reach the other five.
Let's hope the bone grows back.

That's why his legs are now stabilized
in so-called 'plaster cast pants'.

He'll have to wear that
for a couple of months.

Home for sale

Don't forget those mattresses
in the hallway.

- You need permission to sell the house.
- I beg your pardon?

- You need permission to sell the house.
- The family council has approved.

That's unofficial. This is a special
inheritance case. It may take some time.

You are allowed to rent it out
for the time being.

My dad screamed.

He screamed out of...

- Out of pain?
- Yes, but also out of anger.

The man who shot your father,
was the same man who shot you?

No. The man who shot my dad
and Rebecca, wore a mask.

It made me think of the Carnival.

The man who shot me, was a lot taller.
He wore a black curly wig.

His scarf fell down
and I saw a big pimple next to his nose.

- On which side?
- Here.

And he had blue eyes.

I saw light brown hair under his wig.

- Don't look.
- 'Don't look', he said.

How could I not?
He pointed a sawed-off shotgun at me.

- How do you know it was sawed off?
- You can tell.

They didn't do a good job. He aimed
at my head and hit me in the leg.

- How old are you, buddy?
- Nine.

David, do you recognize
any of these people?

Maybe. Hold on.

Take a good look. Take your time.

You were there.

Hey there. Hey. Stay with me.

Hey. What's your name?
What's your name?

Where do you live, buddy?
Where do you live?

Hyacinthenstraat 43.

- That's right.
- Only nine years old.

But he knows what he's talking about.

Gentlemen?

That man in the picture
he wasn't sure about, who...

- Is he known by the police?
- What do you mean?

Do you know him? And his description of
that Giant was very detailed, wasn't it?

- It must get you somewhere.
- The judge will decide on that.

Goodbye.

Mr Van Den Abiel, I suggest
you don't get your hopes up.

- Take my advice and get a lawyer.
- A lawyer?

Yes. They'll help you.

Also if you want to obtain information
about the investigation.

Look, we know very little,
and what we do know, we can't tell you.

Merry Christmas.

- Enjoy.
- Enjoy.

Go on, David.
You could at least pick the meatballs out.

- It's yummy.
- Metje made your favorite soup.

- What is this?
- I don't want to eat.

I can see that.

Can't you just tell us?

Anyway, you need to eat.
Everyone needs to eat.

I don't. I can't eat.

Hello. AARC.

- Mr Van Den Abiel?
- Yes.

Did you read your children's
autopsy reports?

No.

I doubt the Gendarmerie
is keeping you informed.

Who are you?

They were finished off.
All three were given a shot to the neck.

A military execution.

Sir, you should report new information
to the Gendarmerie.

The Gendarmerie...
They are the military. We...

Yes? Hold on.

Don't hang up.

- Officer Walter Bas, please.
- Hello. Who are you looking for?

- Walter Bas.
- He doesn't work here anymore.

- What?
- He's been transferred.

- Whereto?
- No idea.

- Doesn't it say on there?
- No, it doesn't. Sorry, I can't help you.

- So who does know?
- No idea. I really can't help you, sir.

- Mr Van Den Abiel.
- Ms De Moor.

Why here?

Ah well... Just because.

My... My children were finished off
with a shot to the neck.

Says who?

I don't know.

Do you have that from
a reliable source?

I don't know.

Mr Van Den Abiel, you can trust me.

If I tell you I don't know, I don't know.

Someone called me

and said they weren't just shot,
they were executed, military-style.

And so... I want you to publish that.

I need to be sure it's true.

I can't just put that out there.
I have to check and double-check it.

No, wait. Hold on.

Unless it comes directly from you.

You can claim anything you want, I can't.

But why would you do that?

I want to rattle their cage.

This was put under our door.
What are you up to?

Get dressed. The doctor will be here
any minute. The cast is coming off.

Is the Gendarmerie involved?

- Did you read it?
- I don't want anything to do with it.

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

- Hip hip...
- Hooray!

- Blow your candles!
- Blow them.

Happy birthday. This is for you.

- A wheelchair?
- Hey, we worked on it day and night.

- It's a racing car.
- You bet.

- We have something else too.
- Here.

Your daddy bought this for you when...

For Saint Martin.

There you go.

Go on, let's drink to David.

Careful. Coming through. Watch out.

Careful, Chantal.

Here. Cheers, David.

- Cheers.
- Bottoms up!

Aalst celebrates Carnival
We party every day

And rest assured
We won't die of thirst

Gentlemen, want some?
You're probably not allowed.

Want to try?

Forward, backward, left and right.

- Oh right, is it that easy?
- Yes.

- No, no.
- Watch out.

No, no.

Excuse me. Oh dear.

- Goodbye, and thank you.
- Keep doing your exercises.

- Come on, son.
- Bye, David.

- Bye, Doctor. Thank you. Bye, Sister.
- Bye.

- Goodbye.
- Bye.

Right. Come in, monsieur.

We're home.

This is your room.

I emptied out a cabinet for you.

For your toys.

And your school things.

Metje... Congratulations, my dear.

Delhaize will pay us back
the funeral costs.

Major had to disappear

One more bad word about
the Gendarmerie

and the same will happen to you.

Forewarned is forearmed.

Is something the matter?

No.

Who is Major Vernaillen?

A Gendarmerie major
who ran an internal investigation.

They attacked him at home,
shot right through the front door.

- They shot him and his wife...
- What happened to his wife?

They were badly injured.

For God's sake.
Look at what you've done now.

Now what?

Police protection outside the door again?

- What if we need to go shopping?
- I'll sort it out.

- And he has to go to school.
- I don't want to.

- You'll go, just like everyone else.
- Albert.

- I'll sort it out, I said.
- Right.

300, 299, 298,

297, 296,

295, 294...

In Ronquières, firearms are found that
were likely used by the Nijvel Gang.

Divers also retrieve a till
from the Delhaize store in Aalst.

Michel Cocu and the other so-called
Borains were long considered suspects.

They wanted scapegoats
to satisfy public opinion.

The Borains were picked up
and released a total of 17 times.

During the trial, investigating
judge Schlicker

openly develops the hypothesis

that the gang is a commando
which through its attacks

wanted to instigate a coup.

In Brussels, a Parliamentary
Inquiry Committee is created.

One Nijvel Gang trail led to Gladio,

a secret stay-behind network
sponsored by the CIA and NATO

which would organize Europe's
resistance

in the event of a communist take-over.

March 1989

- Are you alright?
- A cramp.

Go on.

Come here.

- I can't go to school today.
- What did you say?

- I can't go to school.
- We talked about this, David.

- I have PE.
- PE is just one hour.

News just in, a new witness will be
heard by the Nijvel Gang Committee.

It concerns Colonel Vernaillen.

In 1981, he and his wife
survived an attack in his own...

Come, son. Finish your sandwich.

Van Den Abiel. Yes.

Yes, but... What is the interview about?
No, not here.

No, it's too small.

We can do it at my office.
The AARC. Yes. Thank you.

TV reporters.

They want our opinion
on the Committee.

And what is our opinion?

I won't say anything about
the Gendarmerie. I promise.

Hey, don't I get a kiss?

You used to be a lot nicer, Petje.

Done. All set for the national news.

Listen, Albert. I was thinking.

Your neighbor, that used car dealer.

Did you know he sells more
than motorbikes and cars?

- He sells guns, too.
- Carlos... That's just a rumor.

Albert, it's true.
You can have anything done there.

You can have serial numbers filed off,
used firearms routed out,

shotgun barrels sawed off.

Hairdressers hear a lot of stories.

Apparently,
the place is crawling with gun freaks.

Yes, people from the far-right,
a weapons dealer, a prison warden,

even some Gendarmerie officers
who were fired for acting like cowboys.

And I hear these guys
come and do target practice in Aalst.

- Target practice?
- Yes, it's a military term.

And... one of those guys
is a customer of mine.

- Who?
- Or rather...

- He came here once.
- Come out with it, who?

Apparently, well... Lepoudre.

Yes, and the afternoon of the attack,
he was in the Delhaize.

Lepoudre?

Apparently.
You didn't get that from me.

Those guys hung out there.

So they must have seen
Gilbert and Thérèse at work here.

And Lepoudre was here, too.

Lepoudre has been in jail for two years,
but not for the Nijvel Gang attacks.

Two years, you say?
So he could've been at the robbery.

And if he was here,
he must have been around ours,

for spare parts and such.
Gilbert may even have known him.

And that BMW that was towed
in Brussels.

How did they even get my license plate?

And why my license plate?

That's the answer.

He was at the robbery, in the parking lot.

My children recognized him.
That's why they had to be finished off.

I'm not going to publish this.
It has to be investigated first.

Investigated? By whom?
By the Gendarmerie?

No, but not by public opinion either.
This would be a bombshell.

Why not?

I promised my grandson I would catch
those criminals and have them locked up.

Mr Van Den Abiel, you're not a detective.

And the Gang Committee is doing
really good work. Give them a chance.

Nothing. I don't know anything.

All I know, is what I read in the press.

Just like everyone else.
Or I get a phone call now and again.

Or notes under the door.

What sort of notes?

Sir...

I'm not a detective.

I'm just a simple mechanic.

Hello.

Yes, Albert speaking.

- Then he hit the boy with his crutch.
- With his crutch?

Well, David? What happened?

- We were walking up the stairs.
- Where?

Over there. He was copying me
and making fun of me.

He kicked my crutch away,
I fell onto my back.

So I jumped up and... well...

- Where is that boy now?
- In hospital.

Tsk, goddammit. Sorry.

David, you know you shouldn't do that.

Let's go.

I assume you have family insurance?

Sure.

Good job, son.

Don't let them push you around.

We went to speak to relatives of the
victims. This is Albert Van Den Abiel.

If you want my opinion
on that Inquiry Committee,

the answer is: I don't know.
I don't know.

They haven't asked me anything,
or David, or my wife.

Even though we witnessed
everything from the start.

What I do know is that I would like
to sell my children's house.

That boy costs a ton of money.

He's had fifteen operations
and will probably need double that.

But I'm not allowed to sell it.
After the misfortune we've had,

you'd think
public services would help you out,

that they would show some empathy.

That they would keep you informed
on the investigation

into your children's murders.

But I don't know anything. Nothing.

I only know what I read in the press.

Or I get phone calls.
Or notes under the door.

What sort of notes?

Sir, I'm not a detective.
I'm just a simple mechanic.

I'm going to bed.
You should too. Come, David.

What do you think of it?

Good night.

300, 299, 298, 297...

296, 295...

That school is no good for David.

I need to write a letter
to the Ministry.

He could do an apprenticeship,
learn a trade.

- He wouldn't have to go to school.
- And start working at fourteen?

- Just like you did.
- Look at me now. I'm still working.

Besides, do you think they'll
employ someone who's only half...

Someone who is disabled.

Good night.

Mr Van Den Abiel?

- It's alright. It's OK.
- Go to sleep, David.

Come in.

Sorry for stopping by this late.
I was in the neighborhood.

I've come to tell you that the people
investigating the Aalst robbery,

led by investigating judge Troch,
are after two former Gendarmerie officers

who are suspected of the attempted
murder of Colonel Vernaillen.

Are they my children's killers?

I don't know.

- Perhaps.
- What about Lepoudre?

Troch has put him under suspicion
and he takes your story very seriously.

Not everyone agrees with him,
but I know him. He's a pitbull.

- A drink?
- No, thank you.

What is all this for?

I'm sorry.

We...

When the doorbell rings...

I stand here, I lift the shutter...

And then...
So they think I'm behind the door and...

So if they shoot, they miss,
because I'm over here.

Like Vernaillen.

Take heart. The ball's rolling now.

- It is.
- Thank you.

Bye.

- What's wrong?
- Nothing.

Shouldn't you be in school?

For god's sake,
you can't be on the couch all day.

Albert...

I don't feel well.

- Pardon?
- He's not feeling well.

Listen, son.

I know it's not easy for you,
but there are no two ways about it.

You need to keep going,
be brave, and study.

Metje says I don't have to go anymore.

Here. Your tea.

David,
if you want to get somewhere in life,

you'll need to use your head. You need
a degree. You have to go to school.

I can't, Petje. I can't.

There's always a way, son.

I have to keep going too.
So does Metje, and so do you.

All three of us have to. Come on.

Let's go to school. Put your shoes on.
I'll wait for you in the car.

This morning, Colonel Vernaillen
stated that banker Leon Finné

warned him in the early eighties
about a far-right conspiracy.

Finné had ties
to right-wing circles in Brussels

and became a victim
of the Nijvel Gang himself.

Sources say Leon was shot in the neck
from close range. International news...

- I'm pushing the cart.
- Hey...

Don't shoot! He's my dad!

David!

Run!

I am calm, sir. But why should I pay tax
on a house that's not even mine

and vacancy tax
while I'm not allowed to sell the house?

Goodbye, sir. Bye.

Asshole!

Sorry, guys.

Yes?

His nerves and tendons were severed.

We were able to repair a lot
through microsurgery,

but his fine motor skills
will be affected.

We were alerted by park visitors,
so the police wasn't involved.

Sorry, Petje.

Don't be mad.

You don't have to say sorry.

Not you.

Really, you don't.

It's cold!

Good job.

Here you go.

- Petje! Petje!
- What's wrong? What is it?

That's the man with the pimple
who shot me.

- That's impossible.
- That's him!

- That man?
- What's the matter?

- He says that's the guy who shot him.
- It is! Go to the police!

- David, the police won't do anything.
- You promised they would be punished!

- And now you won't go to the police?
- Calm down.

They never wanted to listen to Petje.
He was brushed off so many times.

- They laughed at him.
- You promised!

- David...
- David. David!

Look at this.
This is the man who shot him.

David is 100 percent sure.

I can't tell the police
or the Gendarmerie,

so please, Hilde,
put that in your paper.

I'm no longer a reporter.

- Did they fire you?
- No, but...

I'm going into politics.
I can't stand it anymore.

What is happening now, is absurd.

Freddy Troch, the investigating judge
of the Delta cell,

has been taken off the case.

He was the only one who ever
achieved any results. So why?

You just said it.

He was uncovering ties
between a few recurrent suspects

and some bigwigs
in Brussels politics and beyond.

Suddenly, the entire case file,
a few truck-loads full by now,

is transferred to Charleroi. They can't
even read it, because it's all in Flemish.

Translating it would take years.

- Sounds like a Belgian joke.
- A cover-up, more like.

They manipulated from higher up.

- They?
- Yes, they.

Who are 'they', Hilde?

The Pope, the Mossad, the CIA?

State Security, Westland New Post,
you tell me.

Our Prime Minister,
his Majesty the King?

Who needs protecting from whom?

You want to go into politics?
Good luck, I'd say.

Change has to come from higher up.

And you need to be more careful.

You're your own worst enemy.
Think of your family.

You're putting everyone at risk.

People are outraged
over Marc Dutroux's horrific acts.

He allegedly
procured girls for sex parties.

Investigators see a link
with the so-called Roze Balletten

at the end of the 70s,

sex parties used to discredit
and blackmail powerful individuals.

Tens of thousands of people
have flocked to Brussels.

The White March is an impressive
demonstration of solidarity...

Never before have
so many people gathered in the streets.

Never has a march made
such an impact.

People demonstrated
against judicial and political failings.

...that the judiciary should finally
defend those who don't have a say.

11 years later

November 9, 1996

Mr Van Den Abiel?

About that poster...

I do this every year.
It shouldn't be forgotten.

In our general meeting,
we decided not to do it anymore.

Right.

You're the boss.

Take it down,
and I'll be back tomorrow with the press.

Hey there. Anyone seen my reading
material? Kiddo, did you take it again?

Wow. Is this where you get
your inspiration for Carnival?

- My tits are nicer.
- David?

Grandpa's calling you. Goddammit.

She's old enough to be your mom.

Listen, Chantal and Beir are good guys,

but you should keep your distance, son.

You'll be their boss soon.

- We were only messing around.
- Yeah, yeah. I know.

I had this new garage built for you, son.
This is your future.

Take a look at this.
We received a complaint.

Something to do with soil contamination.

What's this?

Good morning.

What can I do for you?

- The Walloon Brabant cell.
- We are investigators.

They're the detectives from Charleroi.

They've started the investigation
from scratch.

- From scratch?
- Yes. Come and listen.

David. Tell them we've lost faith.

I don't get this. I don't understand
what you're doing here.

We told you everything a long time ago
and no one ever did anything.

It will be different this time.

The Walloon Brabant cell
was created to solve the case.

We have authority to investigate
everything. We have carte blanche.

I don't believe in it anymore.

- Petje.
- Come here, David.

Those files have been gathering dust
in Charleroi for years.

Suddenly, these cowboys
are going to solve everything?

- I don't think so.
- They've finally come to meet us.

I'm expecting an environmental official.
Send them back to Wallonia.

Sorry. I apologize. He has other...

- How could I have known?
- The soil report isn't...

- Soil report, my ass.
- This won't help your business.

I have to dig out my infrastructure
to clean up some soil. Like that'll help!

- This is newly built!
- What about your employees' health?

If I go bust, they'll be on welfare.
Is that better for them?

- I'm sorry, sir, the law is the law.
- Fuck the law!

Where was the law
when my kids were executed? Huh?

Are you alright?

- Hi, Albert.
- Carlos.

Money and power can buy you anything.

Dutroux was procuring underage girls
for sex parties.

Up to the highest levels.

To businessmen, bankers, barons.
Even to the Royal Family, it seems.

But will any of those bastards
ever be arrested? Don't think so.

Well, Carlos, at least, those parents

know who killed their kids.

I have something for you. You may have
seen this, but I kept it just in case.

Lepoudre confessed he
was present at several of the robberies,

including the one in Aalst.

'But I'd like to see them prove it,'
he says. Can you believe it?

...police and Gendarmerie,

among others member
of parliament Hilde De Moor.

Because of the police war,
a lot of precious time was wasted.

I believe the political world
should draw its conclusions.

We owe that to the victims
and the bereaved.

Not only in the Dutroux case, but
also in a lot of other criminal cases

Belgium has seen
since the early eighties.

I am mainly referring
to the Nijvel Gang.

We now await the statements

the Ministers of Justice
and Foreign Affairs in parliament.

Oh dear.

- Where have you been?
- Grandpa. 'Where have you been?'

At driving school. I want a license,
I want to buy a car and get out of here.

Did you hear from those guys
from Jumet?

Yes, they got home safely.
I called them.

We talked about the pimple guy.

The guy with the pimple
you didn't want to report.

And about your Dupoudre.

- Lepoudre.
- Lepoudre, Dupoudre. What's in a name.

Philibert, Albert.

- What was their reaction to Lepoudre?
- They'll look into it.

And I believe them.

They'll be back in the morning.

- Back where?
- At the office. 9 am.

Sorry.

Chantal, do you have a minute?

I appreciate
you're making David feel at home,

but you need to be careful,
because in his condition...

He can't handle
all the carousing at night.

Carousing? We're trying to solve
life's big questions, you know.

He was wasted last night.

Perhaps,
but he wasn't with us yesterday.

Don't take it as a criticism.
I would just like you to take it easy.

- Alright, boss.
- Boss? For you.

Thanks.

- Hello.
- Albert? Hilde De Moor.

Great news. They're creating
another Inquiry Committee.

They'll reinvestigate everything.
I hope you'll come and testify.

Can I ask you something?
This Jumet cell? Are they serious?

Very serious. They are investigating
every trace that has ever been found.

It is a shame, but the Dutroux case
has put a lot of things in motion,

in politics as well. This time, we'll
make sure the victims won't be forgotten.

Will you come? With David?

We'll see.

Gentlemen, I apologize for last time.
I am his grandfather.

Here it is.

- A high-level gangster.
- If he's the Giant, we have a problem.

- He was in jail at the time.
- I'll say it again, he was there.

- He can't have been.
- I was there. I saw him.

- You were nine.
- I saw him!

Take it easy, David.

You are right that his jail sentence
wasn't up yet, but I believe...

he was out on prison leave that weekend.

Not everything you read in the press
is true.

Correct, but this is Belgium, sir.

Maybe they forgot to lock
his cell door that weekend.

Yes. We may think that, but
we aren't allowed to say that out loud.

- It has happened before.
- We'll look into it.

- I have to go.
- What? Now?

- Driving lessons. Goodbye.
- Thank you.

Thank you.

What about Lepoudre?
It seems he was hanging out here a lot.

He's a hard case. Professional scum.

- He's known to manipulate the courts.
- And the press and us.

What are you planning to do?

It's complicated. It's not just Aalst.
Each family has their own story.

Petje, this is Nathalie.
From driving school.

Hello. Hello, Mr Albert.

Nice to meet you.
I've heard a lot of good things about you.

Really? I'm sure you have.

Nathalie is staying the night.

Are you crazy? I didn't bring anything.

Don't you worry about that.
I have all sorts of things.

Ah well... Nightcap?

Why not. I'd love to. Thank you.

- Did you explain anything to that boy?
- No.

What's happening?

Do you want a driving lesson too?

Go on then.

Today is an important day
for the Inquiry Committee.

Victims and the bereaved of the Nijvel
Gang robberies will testify...

- Why were you in Antwerp?
- Antwerp?

I haven't been in Antwerp for years.

- David, let's go.
- You got a fine in the mail from Antwerp.

- Must be a mistake.
- Try not to get worked up.

I crossed the road to run into the store

and I saw two gendarmes in uniform
with machine guns. But they didn't budge.

The reports say it was a unit
that happened to be in the area.

OK, Mr Chairman, but who were they?

Are you sure they were in uniform?

- So they were gendarmes.
- Anyone could put on that uniform.

Did you find it suspicious?

- Others did, too.
- Ms De Moor?

We know gendarme uniforms
were stolen at the time,

together with firearms
and bulletproof vests,

from highly-secured barracks
and warehouses.

All the early witnesses mentioned
those two gendarmes in Parklaan.

Why? Because people
were rushing out in a panic,

yelling, trampling over each other,
while those two just stood by.

Wouldn't you call that suspicious?
I brought two kids to safety while...

Is that mentioned in your reports,
Mr Chairman?

Of all the testimonies in Aalst,
nothing was ever recorded.

I've lost all faith in our justice system,
the Gendarmerie and the police.

- Why is that?
- Because they don't do anything.

They don't investigate anything.

Trust is something you have to earn.

I'll show you something.

I drive a Mercedes. I have all my life.

This is a fine for a BMW 520,
towed away in Brussels

with my license number on it.
Fake, of course.

I went and complained
to the Gendarmerie and...

this was their response.
A fine was arranged in my name.

So you see a link between
those events?

Come on.

They wanted to say, 'We know you,
we know where you live.

Keep your mouth shut.'

And today, this was in my mail.
A Peugeot. Towed away in Antwerp.

Again with my license plate.
Wouldn't you call that intimidation?

- A coincidence, perhaps?
- Would you call this a coincidence too?

I am convinced that the detectives
never found anything at the time,

because they...

didn't want to find anything

or because they weren't allowed
to find anything.

Were you kept informed by public
prosecutors or investigating judges?

- No. Never.
- Nothing.

It's been twelve years.

Twelve years ago, my dad and my little
sister were gunned down in front of me.

My mother shouted that I should run.

And she disappeared
from my life for good.

We feel like the lepers
back in the day in the Congo.

Everyone felt very sorry for them,
but they all stayed clear of them.

And then there's our grandson.

His eyes and mouth were taped shut
because he was screaming in agony.

31 operations.

I still have five lead fragments
lodged in my thigh.

- Shall I show you, Mr Chairman?
- That won't be necessary.

I don't mind. I'm used to it.

Every three years,
I have to prove I am still a victim.

That I am still disabled.

- Good grief. What do you think?
- They listened to us. At long last.

- Say, you know what I feel like doing?
- No.

I want to go to the beach.

Yes. I want to see the place where
you dumped your first girlfriend.

I'm coming then.
But first, let's pick up my girlfriend.

Deal.

Hey!

What do you think?

She's a good girl.

- She's a very good girl.
- I think so too.

But... not as good as you.

I haven't heard that in a while.

Inquiry Committee report is out

- Sir, could I take a look at your paper?
- Sure.

You'll have it back. Thank you.

- Hilde De Moor.
- Albert here. Van Den Abiel.

Hello, Albert.

- Congratulations, Hilde. Great job.
- So you've heard.

I'm happy. We've made history.

The police force will be reformed.

The victims and the bereaved
will get protected status.

It's a big step forward.

What I would like to know is...

did you find the killers?

Sorry, but that... That wasn't our...

- Our assignment.
- Did you find them or not?

Congratulations on the brilliant career
you made on the back of our misery.

25 years later

They're here.

Metje, Petje, we went to
see Saint Martin.

What a nice car.

- How are you?
- Good.

- Go and show Petje.
- Look, Petje.

Isn't that cool?

- Soup with...
- Meatballs!

- Enjoy.
- Enjoy.

Where are those meatballs?

Petje,
I got another invitation from Charleroi

for the meeting
with the victims and the bereaved.

Maybe we should go this time?

- When is it?
- Next Wednesday.

I don't know.

- You could go.
- Alone?

With Nathalie. We'll look after Yanni.
Right, kiddo?

We can't, I'm afraid.

I'm exhausted.
I'm at the end of my rope, Albert.

I don't know
how much longer I can keep going.

Go and sit down.

You can't keep asking them, David.

I'm in pain.

I'm hurting all over.

I want it to stop.

Thérèse, Gilbert, Rebecca.
They're calling me.

What about me? I'm still here.

You'll manage, Albert.
You always have.

If you quit, I'll quit too.

Members of the press,
please leave the room.

Members of the press,
I need to ask you to leave the room.

You will get a chance
to speak to people afterward. Thank you.

Tell me, Mr Albert.
Short in the neck, not too short on top?

- Something like that?
- Exactly.

- Did you hear about Lepoudre?
- Lepoudre?

The European Court of Human Rights
granted him compensation,

because he was wrongfully accused
all those years

as the main suspect of the Aalst robbery.

Can you believe that?
How on earth did that happen?

Ah well...
He's an antique dealer now. Look.

He owns a nice shop in Brussels. Calls
himself Wijckmans Thibault nowadays.

- Well, well... Where exactly?
- In De Zavel.

Antique dealer
Wijckmans Thibault

Carlos...

- Could you do my nose hairs too?
- Sure.

- Sure, no problem.
- Thanks.

Nice work, isn't it? Excellent artist.

Mr Wijckmans Thibault.

Or should I say Le Manouche,
Le Rat, Le Gitan, Mr Propre?

Or simply... Lepoudre.

Journalist, are you?

Listen. I swore I'd never talk about
the Nijvel Gang again. Please leave.

You will talk about the Nijvel Gang.

Delhaize, Saturday night, half past seven.

- I wasn't there.
- That's not what I read in the papers.

Put that revolver down.
It could go off.

That's the idea.

OK, I haven't always been a good man.

I once was the most
wanted man in Belgium.

I committed over 300 robberies,
but never with the Nijvel Gang.

I'm just like you, Mr Van Den Abiel.
I'm an entrepreneur.

You know me. You know who I am.

Then you must've known
my son-in-law,

my daughter, my granddaughter. Hm?

I spent twenty years reading the papers
in jail. Of course I know you.

Have you come to avenge your children's
deaths? You hold me responsible.

So, what are you waiting for?
Go ahead. Kill me. Do it.

I will.

Turn around.

Turn around, I said!
Is this how you did it?

Is this how the Gang finishes people off?

Shut up about the Gang.
It never existed!

People were recruited from all over.
That's how it works.

Mr Van Den Abiel...

Can I ask you a simple question?

Who do you think benefited from all this?

Hm, Mr Van Den Abiel?

They will never find the Gang.

It has been 25 years.
We are 25 years after the facts.

This is the tenth time we the victims
and the bereaved

have been invited to come
and listen...

To come and listen to what?

To nothing!
You always say the same thing.

Is the investigation even still ongoing?

Did you get any results? Or are you
waiting for the case to be time-barred?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Your silence...
Your silence is terrible!

And it's an insult to us all!

- Sorry for being late. Could I...
- Take a seat.

Thank you.

Any more questions?

Yes. I won't ask any questions.
It seems you don't answer them anyway.

I have something to say to you, madam,
and to the authority you represent.

The judiciary.

It's quite personal, but...

I'm not well.

And my wife isn't well either.
I'm sorry.

She's ill.
She's in pain. She wants to die.

And... I hope she won't mind me
saying this in public.

- Madam, no recording, please.
- I don't mind, Madam Prosecutor.

Let them record this. Everyone's
allowed to hear what I have to say.

Look, I survived three wars. The first
one in 1940 against the Germans.

Five years of misery.

The second one was in 1960,
in the Belgian Congo.

Our King Baudouin felt insulted
by the rather harsh words

in the welcoming speech
of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba.

And our politicians in Belgium decided
that should have consequences.

With the help of the Belgian military,
Patrice Lumumba was arrested, tortured

and executed without a trial.

We had to run for our lives
and we came back with nothing.

And we built everything up
from scratch again.

25 years later, my third war started.

Against the so-called Nijvel Gang.

I fought, but I don't know against whom.

Were they criminals? Perhaps.

Were they gendarmes? Perhaps.

Were they National Security?
Westland New Post? I don't know.

But in 1985,
my grandson was seriously injured,

and my daughter, my son-in-law,
and my granddaughter were shot dead

in the parking lot of a grocery store
during a robbery.

But they weren't robbed.
Isn't that strange?

Nothing was taken from them.

Except for their lives.
Their lives were taken.

They were gunned down in cold blood

and finished off,
and it was never investigated, madam.

Once again, our politicians did
not choose the side of the people

who they are deemed to represent.

I'm not saying they're responsible

or they were the instigators
of those horrific acts.

Although, having said that...

I can't be sure.

In any case, they did very little
to solve the case.

On the contrary. They tried to enhance
the mystery surrounding that Gang.

They systematically colluded
with corrupt magistrates.

I apologize, madam.

Successive Ministers of Justice
abused their power.

Detectives were removed
from the investigation early,

because they were getting results.
Imagine that.

Others were promoted out of the way
for the same reason.

Yet others were... bullied to leave.

There is even one
who out of torment and frustration,

took his own life.

Plots were orchestrated
between criminals

and officers
right to the top of the Gendarmerie.

And as if it wasn't bad enough...

a notorious gangster,
who was the main suspect for years,

was granted compensation
by the European Court of Human Rights.

Conveniently taking advantage
of Belgium's community divide,

they transferred the entire case file
from one language community

to the other,
slowing down the investigation for years.

It was chaos.

You might say that's normal. That's...

That's typically Belgian.
It's inept, dumb.

'They're going around in circles,'
I used to say.

But that's not true.

It was organized chaos.

It was systematic.

How come the CCC, the communist
terror cell from the same era,

who made far fewer victims,
was rounded up in less than two years?

While the investigation into the
Nijvel Gang is still ongoing, I believe.

How is that possible?

There are people who represent us
in official bodies and governments

who lay out that strategy,

who have the knowledge
and hence, the power.

They tend to call them 'crocodiles'
in politics.

That's an excellent choice of word.

That's clever. Crocodiles.

I saw crocodiles in the Congo.

They become very old.
They have no natural enemies.

They are cunning, strong, quick.

And dangerous and ruthless.

I ask all 'crocodiles'

to put aside their pride, their claim
to be right and their judicial truth

and tell us, let us know why
we had to suffer for all those years.

Who and what had to be protected?

What weren't
and aren't we allowed to know?

I'm not asking for my own sake, madam,
but for all these people here.

And for my grandson, David.

Son, you know better than anyone
that I am actually a man of few words.

In our family,
we are sparse with compliments.

But times were tough, son.

But you should know...
You should know that I...

love you so much.
That I have admired you.

When you were a little boy lying in
that bed, Sister Benedict by your side.

Do you remember I promised you

I'd bring the murderers of your mom, your
dad and your little sister to justice?

Well, son...

I apologize. Sorry. I failed.

You don't have to say sorry, Petje.

Not you.

Metje passed away in 2010

Albert died in 2011 through euthanasia

David still fights the injustice every day

Between 1982 and 1985,
28 people were killed and over 40 injured

in 17 Nijvel Gang attacks.
Their loot was always minimal.

The many victims and bereaved
are still quietly hopeful

politicians and the judiciary
will find the courage.

To this day, not a single suspect
has been convicted before a court.

Dedicated to all the victims
of the Nijvel Gang

DON'T SHOOT

Based on 'Niet schieten,
dat is mijn papa!'

by David Van de Steen
and Annemie Bulté

Subtitles from
Queen Queen