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Shadowing the Police in Belgium’s Hotbed of Extremism

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In a year marred by European terror attacks, one Belgian neighborhood has gained a reputation as a breeding ground for Islamic extremism.

Molenbeek, a suburb of Brussels, is where at least four of the extremists who launched a deadly series of attacks in Paris in November grew up. The neighborhood has also been linked to the 2015 French train attack, which was broken up by passengers; the 2014 attack on the Jewish museum in Belgium; and the 2004 Madrid train bombings.

Salah Abdeslam, the last living suspect in the Paris attacks, also grew up in Molenbeek — and was captured there last week. Just four days later, Brussels came under attack again, when dozens were killed in a series of bombings claimed by ISIS.

In 2011, Sebastien Van Malleghem, a Belgian photographer, visited Molenbeek for a project on law and order. His images, which were shot as Van Malleghem shadowed local police officers, offer a stark look inside the community and its relationship with law enforcement.

A policewomen searching for evidence in the bad area of Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium on February 2011
A policewomen searching for evidence in Molenbeek, a heavily immigrant district in Brussels, Belgium. Feb. 2011.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
A burned car in the streets of Molenbeek, Brussels. Jan. 28, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
A Police woman search a women in the middle of the street after a call for a street fight. Brussels Ouest ( Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Koekelberg, Jette, Ganshoren et Berchem-Sainte-Agathe), Belgium on January 28, 2010.
A police officer searches a women in the middle of the street after a report of a street fight, Brussels. Jan. 28, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
A suicide scene in Molenbeek, in the north of Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 1, 2011. Sébastien Van Malleghem
A policeman enters in the kitchen of a private home follwing a call for a family fight in Molenbeek, Brussels on December 2011.
A policeman enters the kitchen of a private home, following a call advising of a family fight in Molenbeek, Brussels, Dec. 2011.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
An old women is alive and lying on the floor of her flat in Molenbeek, Belgium on feb 25, 2010. The cops were called for a non response old women, she felt from her chair, and couldn't wake up.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
Policemen search apartment numbers on the intercom of a building in Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium on Feb 1, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
Body search of a suspect by the civilian branch of the police, in a police station in Molenbeek, Brussels. Apr. 7, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
A cop is taking fingerprints of a woman in the police station of Brussels West, Molenbeek, Belgium. Feb 25, 2010. She was involved in a fight at a snack bar. Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
Cops are preparing documents they will work on during the night, Molenbeek, Brussels, Belgium. Feb. 1, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
One of the biggest drug (haschich) caught of the year by the civilian branch of the Brussels Ouest Police ( covering the cities of  Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Koekelberg, Jette, Ganshoren et Berchem-Sainte-Agathe) in Brussels on May 2010.
One of the biggest loads of hashish seized by the civilian branch of the Brussels West Police, Molenbeek, Brussels, May, 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Packs of drugs found in the pocket of a drug dealer caught earlier. Thepacks of drugs will be placed in a security bag and will serve later for evidence to prove that the person was selling drugs. Central Police Station of Brussels Ouest, Molenbeek on March 2011.
Packs of drugs found in the pocket of a drug dealer. Central Police Station of Brussels Ouest, Molenbeek, Brussels, n March 2011.Sébastien Van Malleghem
View from the window of the back seat of a police car driving trough the city of Molenbeek, Brussels Ouest District, Belgium on December 2011.
View from the back seat window of a police car driving trough the city of Molenbeek, Brussels Ouest District, Belgium, Dec. 2011.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Police
An arrest is made after police officers searched a place suspected to be a "storage house" for drug dealers. Brussels West, Belgium. Feb. 2011.Sébastien Van Malleghem
Call for alarm with possible suspects present inside a private building of the city of Jette. The Police from Brussels Ouest was searching the surrounding, armed in case of face to face with armed criminals. Brussels Ouest Police Disctrict covers the cities of  Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Koekelberg, Jette, Ganshoren et Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, in Brussels on January 2010.
A police officer approaches a building after receiving an alert that potential suspects were holed up inside the building in Jette, Brussels. Jan. 2010.Sébastien Van Malleghem

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