A viral video of a police officer slapping a handcuffed woman across the face in Belgium has sparked widespread outrage.
In the shocking clip, which has since racked up hundreds of thousands of views on social media, three officers are seen attempting to place the woman into a police van in the city of Nivelles, south of Brussels.
But when the handcuffed woman appears to resist getting into the vehicle, a male officer can be seen slapping her across the face before forcefully shoving her into the back of the van.
Two female officers can be seen standing nearby during the incident.
The exact reason for her initial detention remains a mystery.
The footage has sparked widespread fury on social media, as outraged users condemned the officer’s “abuse of power” and called for him to be fired.
“He should be subject to disciplinary, and dismissal for that. She was already restrained; he did not need to strike her like that,” one furious person commented.
Another wrote: “It’s exactly these behaviours why the police are no longer respected.”
Others questioned if the act violated EU laws and basic human rights, questioning why she was struck if she was already restrained.
However, others defended the officer’s actions, arguing that he had no other option.
“Very effective against a troublemaker,” one person argued.
“Well done to the police officer. Belgian police have been most effective.”
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Another user added that applying “violence in moderation” seemed “acceptable.”
Nivelles Mayor Bernard De Ro, who also heads the local police district, confirmed an internal investigation has been launched to review the circumstances leading up to the recording and why the officer used force – as reported by The Brussels Times.
Law enforcement authorities have also urged the public not to form opinions based solely on the short clip circulating online.
The disturbing footage comes just days after a separate police brutality incident in France, where an officer is now under investigation after a video emerged of him throwing a homeless man named Youssef E to the ground.
It’s understood officers were responding to a noise disturbance call during a music festival in June when an officer walked up behind the 29-year-old and hurled him to the pavement.
The victim was not the target of the police intervention, was not arrested.
He was tragically found in cardiac arrest at his camp on July 3, prompting an investigation into his death.
While an initial autopsy ruled out third-party injuries, prosecutors have since launched a judicial review into the officer for intentional violence following the release of the video.
