"This murder must not go unpunished"
Mon 17/04/06 - The Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt (Flemish liberal) has sent a letter of sympathy to the parents of the murdered teenager Joe Van Holsbeeck. 17 year old Van Holsbeeck was killed after being stabbed repeatedly by another teenager, who was out to steal his MP3 player.
The attack took place in Brussels Central railway station in the middle of last Wednesday evening's rush hour.
The 17 year old, from the Brussels district of Haren, will be buried on Thursday.
Mr Verhofstadt sent the Van Holsbeeck family the letter of condolence on behalf of the both the Government and the population at large.
Mr Verhofstadt says that it is the violent nature of this crime, which has caused so much shock and disbelief.
"I want to assure you that this pointless murder will not go unpunished and that finding the culprits is an absolute priority."
The Prime Minister added that the Van Holsbeecks' should not hesitate to call on him or his staff, if they felt that he could be of any assistance.
Immigrant organisations for march
Several organisations representing immigrants in Belgium have said that they will take part in a march against gratuitous violence, which is planned for this Wednesday.
The organisations say that they want to show support for the parents of the murdered teenager, Joe Van Holsbeeck.
The two young men wanted in connection with the 17 year-old's murder are believed to be of North African extraction.
The idea for a march came from the Brussels regional MP Fouad Ahidar (progressive regionalist).
Mr Ahidar, who himself is a Belgian with Moroccan roots, was a youth worker before he entered politics. He stresses that any march should be a silent and dignified affair and should not be used by politicians for their own ends.
Joe Van Holsbeeck's parents have said that they have their reservations about Mr Ahidar's idea for a march. They have called on politicians not to exploit their grief at the loss of their son for political ends.
Unions call for better security
Meanwhile, the rail unions and the railway police have asked for security in Belgium's stations to be stepped up.
A few security cameras have been installed in stations over the past few years.
However, the unions and transport police feel that this isn't enough.
There are only 50 railway police officers for the almost 100 stations in the area in and around Brussels.
The unions say that twice this number is needed.
At present, there are 350 railway police offices in the whole of Belgium.
Belgian Railways has already promised that new cameras will be installed in the country's 50 largest stations.