Belgian ‘shot dead in his sleep’ in Syria

A Belgian national who left the country to go fight in Syria is thought to have died in the Middle East. He has been named as Tarik Taketloune,  a twenty-year-old car mechanic from Vilvoorde, who was studying at Mechelen’s Technical Institute. According to his father, the youngster was killed by a bullet to the head while he was asleep. Three days before his death, Tarik Taketloune told his family he planned to return to Belgium. His brother, Elias Taketloune, a Sharia4Belgium activist, has just been arrested on his return to Belgium. He denies having fought in Syria and claims to have taken part in a humanitarian mission. A court has confirmed his detention for a duration of one month.