Original subtitles

EARLIER IN THE DAY

When were you going to tell me?

It was in your bedside table.

What about the money? Why is it taking so long?

That one million euros isn't just lying around waiting for us.

Do those men know there is a ransom ready for them, yes or no?

I can't tell you anything.

I've searched everywhere, no flash drive.

Who does the accounts? Your wife?

Why don't you ask if Serge knows about that money?

For God's sake tell me what is going on.

Can you hear that? That's my gun against the girl's head.

I'll kill her, pal, I mean it.

No, we discussed it.

Not this. I never said I thought this was a good idea.

I won't leave you alone. Press the button.

Freya.

We've been thinking they're calling us via Skype

but they just made a program that looks like it in order to listen in.

May I borrow this gentleman for a moment? Thank you.

- Is the camera on the facade yours? - There isn't a camera.

There's one hidden in the alarm.

- It drives back out again? - At least one of the hostage takers left.

- I wouldn't be surprised if they've gone. - In theory we can go in there.

Lima 1. One victim safe. We're taking him outside.

OK, Lima 1. Lima 2, clear the basement.

- I can hear something. - What? What can you hear?

- Not the bomb. - Have you got a better idea?

- We're trying to block all frequencies. - Fuck, it won't stop.

OK, Michael, just stay calm. We'll get the thing off.

Where's the loudspeaker, Michael? Michael, where's the loudspeaker?

On the left on a shelf as you come in.

The loudspeaker is on your left on a shelf as you come in.

Just lie there calmly.

Clear.

Clear.

Hello? Is someone there?

Hello?

Camera deactivated. You can turn the light on again.

Take it off.

- Undone. - Outside go left.

OK, clear. Outside.

Down on the ground, miss. Down on the ground.

- Just keep calm. - Undo it, please.

- We're going to free you. - No, take it off. Please.

We're going to free you, miss. Keep calm.

Take it easy. Stay calm.

Just lay there calmly. Don't move.

I can't get a grip. The screw's protruding too far.

- It's taking too long. - Here. Try the display.

Get it off. Get it off. Get it off.

- And? - I can't see it. We can't risk it.

- How long have we got? - Twenty seconds.

Immobilise her.

No, no, no. No.

- I'd like to stay but I'm not allowed to. - Take it off. Please.

No! Take it off!

Freya? We're sorry but we have to follow the rules.

Just sit there calmly for a moment. We will take it off your neck.

THE DAY

OK, clear. Come on.

There has just been increased activity and tension to be seen

among the police on the perimeter. A number of vehicles came and went

via the centre's rear entrance but no explanation was given,

so the police's decision not to update us on the hostage situation

remains unchanged for now. We are now going over live to the scene...

- And? - No one.

I'm going to tell Lima to go. I don't think there's much more we can do here.

Right. I'll tell them.

HOSTAGE TAKERS LISTENING IN!!

- And? What did Ivo say? - The same.

That they won't storm the bank as long as negotiations are still going on.

- So all the pressure is on us. - OK.

BANK EMPTY, F&M FREE, REST NOT THERE

We've talked about it.

Ibrahim and I think it may be best to get Noor and Freya released first.

- That's rather optimistic. - Yes, I know.

- Do you want a coffee? - Please.

Thank you.

- Hello? - Tell me, pal. What's happening?

Everyone's being kept away from the bank

and they are busy working out the best way for us to...

D'you think I don't know what you're up to?

What do you mean?

I ask you for stuff, you say you're on it. But you're not.

When I look outside I still can't see a helicopter there waiting.

IVO: BRIEFING NOW

- Get on with in - Yes, sir. I know what you think but...

Don't tell me what I think. I'll decide what I think.

And I'm sick of your explanations. I don't want them, I want a helicopter.

- Let me explain why it's taking so long. - You're not explaining anything.

I think the only way of making you listen is if I shoot someone in the head!

Is that what you want?

Shit.

Hi. Sorry. Sorry, sorry. I know, I was going to phone you back but...

No, I haven't been able to leave yet. I'm sorry, Ellen, really I am. But it's...

No, I don't want to wait until Dad is dead.

Ellen, listen. Let me explain.

- Ellen? But... Ellen. - Sir.

- Sorry. - Sir.

Could you please stay in the area? Any questions... you can always phone me.

You OK?

Yeah, I'm OK.

So they've spent the whole day surrounding an empty building.

Is there any indication where they could be? Number plates, phone mast?

No, still no clues.

Freya and Michael are in shock. They're with Victim Support.

We'll interview them as soon as possible to find out what happened.

We have one big advantage. The hostage takers don't know we've been in there.

If we can delay things, drag out the negotiations,

we can buy time to find out where those guys really are. OK?

- Vos, can you manage that? - Yeah. We'll do our best.

We have to keep up the pretence by pretending to surround the bank.

No one can know Freya and Michael are free.

Their family has been informed?

You can't not tell the family that they've been freed?

Look, we are aware it's an unusual decision to make.

I'd like to go through the swimming pool guy's images again.

If I can remember his password.

- Password. - I know. I hadn't forgotten.

I can't log in.

YOU ARE LOGGED IN ON ANOTHER COMPUTER

How come? He was here a minute ago...

Excuse me.

Is that guy from the swimming pool with you?

- Who? - That guy... Open that door.

- Come on, out of there. All of you. - May I ask what's going on?

No, get out and hands off that computer.

Come on.

Freya, Ivo De Rouck, Federal Police.

When can I go home?

I know it's not a good time but others are still being held hostage

and I need to ask you some questions. OK?

Your colleagues just left me there with a bomb around my neck

so I really don't feel like talking to cops or anyone else.

I just want to go home.

Sorry, I'll be right back.

Could I maybe talk to the man who freed me?

- Did they send the images to the station? - I don't know.

I asked Marnix to change the swimming pool guy's password, just in case.

It's not allowed but if it gets out we're screwed.

And I can hardly arrest them, they're journalists.

OK. I'll talk to the public prosecutor.

We still have to interview Michael and Freya. That's urgent too.

You start that. I'll try to sort this out.

OK, fine.

Can I please have my phone back?

I want to call my lawyer to ask if you can just keep us here. I don't think you can.

True, but you haven't been arrested. You're just witnesses.

I want to ask you not to broadcast the images.

Why not? Two people have just been freed. That's good news.

We don't want the images broadcast, in the interests of the negotiations.

Why have my camera and phone been seized? Are they witnesses too?

No. But you may have filmed something with those phones or camera

that could help our investigation. You never know.

Right, so if we haven't been arrested we can just get up and walk out of here?

- In theory, yes. - OK.

But only after I have taken statements from you.

First I'd like to go through the images from that camera and the one on your wall.

- All the images? - Yes.

Good luck. We filmed for more than an hour and a half.

Then we know what to do for the next hour and a half, eh?

We had to roll up the money and once it was rolled up, flush in down the toilet.

- Down the toilet? - Yes, it was in plastic tubes

and we had to flush them one by one.

Can you get someone from the wastewater company to come here?

Sorry.

Can you give me a description of the hostage takers?

They had hoods over their head, I didn't see their face.

Apart from their face.

Were they tall or short? How did they sound? How did they behave?

One was very quick-tempered.

He was rather wound up.

The other one was calmer.

Well...

No, not calmer.

I don't know.

He seemed to be...

scared of what was going on.

OK. Why did they put Michael in the mantrap? Do you know?

I wanted to hang up a piece of paper in the window... I wanted to let you know...

that those guys weren't there. But Freya didn't agree.

Why didn't Freya agree?

I was scared...

of what those guys would do.

Because of that neck bomb.

- And you weren't scared? - Yes, of course I was but...

Because they had hoods on it... I sort of wasn't worried...

I thought them not wanting to show their face meant that we...

would get to talk about it afterwards.

- Who has access to the storeroom? - Everyone, I think.

It's never locked, so... but I rarely or never go in there.

- And that safe is no longer used? - Yeah, that's what they told me.

Who?

Walter.

Then you got me out of there.

OK. I think we've got enough for now.

Unless there's something that you would like to add?

Freya?

Well, I...

I don't know, I may be wrong, but...

I had the feeling...

that one of those men seemed familiar.

But I can't place him.

Which one of the two?

The one who spoke to us through the loudspeaker.

But like I say, it's just a feeling. I may be wrong.

OK. That's important. If it comes to mind, let us know.

When can I go home?

You're going to have to be patient, I'm afraid.

We've got all those images on our computer in the van.

You can look at them there, if you want. Then we can carry on using the camera.

Yeah... but I'd rather look at them together with you.

- See anything else while up on the roof? - Anything else?

- Anything at all. - I think I saw a bird.

What kind of bird, do you remember?

Otherwise I'll just write bird.

Arne.

I'll be right back.

- You took the first one with you. - Yes, but the device on the ceiling

was only removed because we were 100% sure it wasn't a real bomb. It was empty.

- And you're not sure about those two? - No. We can't see what's inside.

All we can do is carry out a controlled explosion. That's normal procedure.

But this isn't a normal situation. Can't you just take them away?

You can go and get them, I'm not touching home-made junk like that.

Controlled or not, if it's exploded on the square, people will panic.

No one will go for that. Certainly not the hostage takers.

- That was in that safe, or what? - Yes, on its own in a corner.

- The sewer guys are here. - I'll be right there.

Password. Could've known.

- Can it be hacked? - All passwords can be hacked.

Are you going to wait till it is?

- How long will it take? - In the best case a few seconds.

- And in the worst? - A few billion years.

- Cut the crap. - I'm serious.

A password with 32 characters, 128 bits, AES encryption, up to 0.11 trillion years.

With the best computer in the world, so...

Plus the number of seconds you two spend breathing down my neck.

Right.

If those tubes are flushed here

then they come along here into the main sewer. That's this one.

And then it goes along this road, along the canal.

- The bank hasn't got a septic tank? - No, no building on the square has.

- Where does it eventually come out? - Here in the sewage treatment plant.

- Maybe they collected it there? - How many people work there?

No one. One computer, that's all.

And someone comes along to check things two mornings a week.

- What d'you reckon? Send a team? - Yes.

You can if you like but we've just been there.

- When? - Two hours ago, for something minor.

See anything unusual? Signs of a break-in? A vehicle not normally there?

No, the gate was closed, the doors locked.

Suppose someone collected them on the way, where would be the best spot?

Could be anywhere. Between the square and the treatment plant

there are at least fifty manhole covers you can access.

Then shouldn't we start by getting a team to check those covers?

Yes, let's start with that.

OK. Yes. Actually, I'd like to put two teams on it.

No, that's the most urgent. No. Yes, but...

Sir, sir. Sir. Madam.

Sir.

Sir, I've already told you you can't just burst in here.

That should be enough.

- What's up? - Mr. and Mrs. Van Landschoot.

He has a ransom of 160,000 euros with him. He'd like it to be offered to those men.

You can pass that on.

And tell them a helicopter is standing by ready to come here.

Please ensure our daughter is released.

- Losing a child... - You won't. We are doing everything...

We already have.

Our son committed suicide 18 months ago.

We can't cope with losing our daughter too.

- Mum. - Sweetheart.

They have to stay here but they already know about it. OK?

Dad.

Nothing. Close it.

That's it.

Unexploded ordnance has been found in a field for the second time in five years.

Two hand grenades from the First World War.

A member of the public spotted them in the field and called the emergency services.

The bomb squad will carry out a controlled explosion on them later today

using a conventional explosive with a small charge

so there is no danger to local residents. End of press release.

- That's fine. - Yes, send the press release.

We've got something.

They found a tube of money a kilometre from the centre.

- One? - Yes, one.

Either they collected everything there and they lost one

or it's one that got stuck along the way. I told them to carry on looking.

OK. I've just called the bank's head office.

They knew nothing about that safe.

They suspect it was there from before the takeover.

Right, so we've got a few million in cash that no one knows about.

Can you make a list of everyone in the region caught with illicit money

in the past twenty years? The larger amounts. Everything above 50,000 euros.

Right.

Those guys know too much about everything at the bank.

How can you know that if you don't work there?

So what do you think?

At least one of those four must have something to do with it.

The hostage situation seems to have reached stalemate.

Since the release of the youngest hostage Basil Hawal

and the delivery of food a short time later

the situation now seems to have developed into a standoff.

Negotiations are said to be ongoing

but the atmosphere in which they are being conducted

and whether a solution is close to being reached is currently unclear.

- Take a seat. - Thank you.

Andrea, there's said to be a safe in the bank with a huge amount of money in it.

Only customers know what's in those safes, eh?

Not an official one, an old one in the archive room.

A few million in cash is a bit strange.

So I got my colleagues to draw up a list

of everyone from around here caught with illicit money.

One of the first names they found was this man here.

Your brother.

Guilty of fraud with his transport company at the end of the 90s.

Illicit money. 7 million Belgian francs.

Dirk died of cancer three years ago.

- Is it necessary to throw that in my face? - No, but...

I see Walter's name mentioned in the case too.

Walter was cleared of all charges. He had nothing to do with that money.

It says lack of evidence here. That's not necessarily the same thing.

Your husband is still a hostage so the more we know

the greater the chance of it ending well for him.

He had nothing to do with it.

- What did Andrea tell you? - Nothing.

But I'm almost certain she or Walter set up that construction.

And who does that money in the safe belong to? Do we know that yet?

Either lots of little fraudsters who together amassed a few million or...

I don't know, it's starting to smell of Rolf Van Landschoot.

- Because his daughter was in there too? - Yes. But there's also his son.

Nils Van Landschoot. Arrested two years ago at the airport

with 400,000 euros cash in his luggage and a ticket to Cyprus.

Where is he now?

He supposedly stole part of the family fortune.

He'd got the money from selling antique heirlooms and paintings.

- Yeah, it does stink a bit. - Where is he now? Can we talk to him?

No, he hung himself in prison.

Do we have to let Rolf go then?

- Have we got anything concrete against him? - No.

Then we have to let him go.

I hear Freya's father on TV saying you won't let him give it to us.

- I said the time frame is difficult but... - I don't care if it's difficult.

That money will be here at the agreed time. If you even think of...

Do you think they would detonate Freya's bomb if it came to the crunch?

No, I don't think so.

That guy is open to reason. Especially when he hears the good news later.

- Good afternoon. - How is our arrangement going?

I've got some good news. The bank wants to give you 160,000 euros

but the public prosecutor wants you to release everyone first.

Noor, Freya, Serge, Michael and Walter.

What about that helicopter?

They are working on it but it will probably be OK.

I'll think about it. I'll call you back.

If the bank can spare 160,000 euros it can also spare a million.

They made more than 200 million euros profit last year.

The helicopter is ready, so is the money. 160,000 euros isn't to be sniffed at.

Didn't you hear me? It's a million or nothing.

I'll tell you what. Every time you fuck me about, the price goes up.

It's 15 million now. You've got an hour and a half

Or the people here will die.

Hey, sir, I'm happy to find a solution together with you

but it's difficult if you keep threatening to blow up those two people.

- Then we can't... - Two people? Why did you say two people?

I mean...

She insists Walter has nothing to do with it.

There's a big chance those guys are onto us.

- They know we've been in there. - How come?

I said something that revealed we knew how many people were in the bank.

What did you say?

That he had to stop threatening to blow up those two people.

- Fucking hell! - I don't believe it.

- We all share responsibility. - Yeah.

Ibrahim has done a fantastic job up till now.

We would never have prolonged it for so long without him.

How likely is it that those guys phone back?

- Highly unlikely, I think. - Ivo...

Later.

Now what? Technically we no longer have a hostage situation.

The others haven't been found yet...

I mean here. What is the point of maintaining that perimeter?

We can't keep people outside in the cold for nothing.

No, but if we remove it they will know we're giving up here.

Let them think that.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

I'll let that be known. Then those people can go home.

You can let the camera team go.

Now a press conference as quickly as possible before rumours start.

OK. I'll tell the relatives before they hear it on the media.

Ivo to all teams, we're removing the perimeter.

You can go.

I'm asking my editor to submit a complaint about the cops in general

- and you in particular. Just so you know. - Fine.

I've got some news for you.

After hours of an apparent stalemate in the hostage situation at the bank

there now seems to be important news on its way.

The police and the local authorities have just announced a press conference

at which they say they will apprise us of important recent events and developments.

What exactly those events are will hopefully become clear in a few minutes.

- There's no media there? - Shouldn't be.

A press conference is being held.

- Mr. Van Landschoot? - Yes.

I just wanted to ask, what do you think those men wanted?

- Money, I assume? - What money?

Obviously not mine, eh?

That's the hardest thing about our job. The consequences if we make a mistake.

It took me 25 years to learn to accept that.

Is that what happened to the fallen angel, a mistake?

Yeah... If afterwards no one tells you there's nothing you could've done...

then you know, eh?

So what happened?

Unless you'd rather not talk about it.

We received a call, a man was threatening his wife and daughter with a knife

on the balcony of his apartment.

So we went there.

I had him on the line. High on drugs and alcohol.

Totally paranoid, but I'm usually good with cases like that.

I feel like I'm on his wavelength.

Suddenly he hides behind a sheet hanging up to dry on the balcony.

He gets into a right state because he sees one of our snipers.

He grabs his daughter and drags her inside

and starts shouting everyone has to go or he'll kill his daughter.

One of the snipers says he has a clear shot from the side.

Ivo asks what he should do. Shoot or not?

And I say I think we can still talk him out of it.

At that moment the guy calls me.

And I say something stupid.

The next moment...

he comes out and throws his daughter over the balcony.

The girl grabs the sheet but then falls to the ground below.

I know you love your daughter and what has she done to you?

That's what I said. While the guy had blown a fuse

because he saw his daughter tipping his pills and alcohol down the toilet.

He hadn't mentioned it for half an hour and had maybe forgotten

and then I reminded him.

I see that image every night.

That little girl falling down wrapped in that sheet.

It looked like two wings.

If things are fine, I'm not wanted.

And when you don't know what to do, I get to explain?

- That's what it amounts to, eh? - I'll do the talking.

Good afternoon.

Ibrahim? Ivo asked for the conversations with the hostage taker to be typed out

to be able to draw up a better profile. We can set ourselves up inside.

Can you stay by the phone? OK.

If there are any more developments, we will keep you posted. Thank you.

Thank you.

So that was the police's rather unexpected press release.

Eric Van Der Sypt, the Public Prosecutor's spokesman, has now joined us again.

Well, Mr...

Yes, thank you.

- How did the press conference go? - Great. They were very understanding.

Hold on, hold on. Marnix has opened that flash drive.

- &Fides2003. - Pardon?

- The password. - And?

Not bad. Not that good either seeing as it didn't take me long to crack it.

No, I mean what's on the flash drive?

An Excel sheet listing everything that went in and out of that safe.

Apparently two customers regularly brought in money,

a big fish and a little shrimp who stopped three years ago.

Could be Andrea's brother. He died three years ago.

- How much was in that safe today? - It was just over three million.

- Wow, so much. - Yes. It used to be collected regularly

but that stopped 18 months ago, which is why there was so much in there.

Then those guys must have known that now was a good time.

18 months ago. How much was removed then?

Let's see.

How much was Rolf's son caught with at the airport?

- 400,000. - 400,000.

Send a team there now. I'll get a search warrant.

Didn't you hear what I said? There isn't going to be any bargaining.

Do what I say or there will be consequences.

ARCHIVE VIDEO FALLEN ANGEL

- Full stop. - That girl hasn't done you any harm.

- The others haven't done anything either. - Sir, that girl is 15.

Hey, Bram, pal.

The evidence was in the same safe in which your money was kept.

I'm telling you that money in that safe is not mine.

You can turn my accounts inside out, you won't find a thing about illicit money.

Because it's not there or you think it's well enough hidden?

We really are going to turn your accounts inside out. You do realize that?

Your son was arrested at the airport with a large amount of cash in his luggage.

I'm warning you, leave my son out of this.

400,000 euros in cash.

That's not peanuts.

Where did Nils get all that money from?

He'd stolen family jewels and antiques.

Worth 400,000 euros?

Yes.

I read here that Nils was supposed to succeed you as CEO of Mahltex,

a company worth millions and millions of euros.

So why would he run off with a few hundred thousand?

To a country where banks happen to be rather lax about that kind of money?

Sir, I'm happy to find a solution together with you

but it's difficult if you keep threatening to blow up those two people.

- Then we can't... - Two people? Why did you say two people?

I'm happy to find a solution together with you

but it's difficult if you keep threatening to blow up those two people.

- Then we can't... - Two people? Why did you say two people?

I mean...

I know I fucked up but do you really have to listen to it hundreds of times?

I think I know where those guys are.

I'm not saying it is the case. But let's assume for the moment it is.

Nils was your money courier.

It goes well a few times but the moment he gets caught

antiques and jewellery worth 400,000 euros suddenly disappear.

A story about a son who has stolen the stuff is invented

and Nils goes to prison for a few months.

No fun for him, of course.

But in exchange for whatever you promised him

he ensures that the illicit money game is not exposed.

Correct?

If you've got a different version...

My son did something stupid. I don't know why.

He stole from the family.

And then he committed suicide in his cell out of guilt.

And that isn't my version of the story.

It's the only version.

- What is so urgent? - Vos has found something.

Come here.

Ivo, this is the last conversation with the hostage taker.

We always record the sound on two separate tracks.

One track is what we hear down the telephone,

the other track is what Ibrahim says into his microphone.

Maybe you could play the telephone.

Will die.

Hey, sir, I'm happy to find a solution together with you

but it's difficult if you keep threatening to blow up those two people.

- Then we can't... - Two people? Why did you say two people?

That's the bomb squad detonating those neck bombs.

Now exactly the same, but what came through Ibrahim's microphone.

Or the people here will die.

Hey, sir, I'm happy to find a solution together with you

but it's difficult if you keep threatening to blow up those two people.

- Then we can't... - Two people? Why did you say two people?

I mean...

- That's quite a bit later. - And much quieter too.

So two things. Those guys heard that explosion too

and that sound was much earlier where they are than where we are and much louder.

So they are closer to the spot where that bomb exploded than we are.

Yes. And I think we can also work out where approximately.

I've just looked it up.

Wikipedia says the speed of sound at zero degrees is 331 metres per second.

And... Hold on, where was the bomb squad going to detonate those bombs?

- In a field on Heinestraat. - Yes.

So the distance from there to here is, hold on...

is approximately 1.8 kilometres. OK.

So divided by 331...

is... Hold on.

Divided by 331.

Is 5.4. That means the sound of that explosion

took 5.4 seconds from there to us.

Yes. And how many seconds are there between the explosions?

It's...

- 4.6. - That's a difference of 0.8.

So those guys were only 0.8 seconds from where those bombs were detonated.

Times 331 is 265 metres.

So...

Those guys are at that sewage treatment plant after all.

- Shall we go in the van? - No, we'll go with Ivo.

Ivo.

Hello?

I'm on my way.

Flashing lights off.

Sierra 4, round the back. Alfa 1 and 2, stand by with explosives.

Inside two men by all doors and the gate. Four extra men to provide cover.

Inside two men by all doors and the gate right away.

Four extra men to provide cover.

Alfa 1 and 2, in position. Over.

- Alfa 5 in position. Alfa 6 in position. - Sierra 1 to 4 in position, over.

- What do I say? - You decide.

But no more negotiations. That's over.

Say it's over. Tell him to come outside.

Sir, the place is surrounded.

I would ask you to come out calmly and unarmed. It's over.

It's over.

I would ask you to come out calmly and unarmed.

Then no one will get hurt.

Everyone ready to go in. Three, two, one. Go.

Federal Police, drop your guns. Drop your guns and get down on the ground.

Sierra 2, first area upstairs cleared. We are now in a warehouse.

Sierra 1, there is a locked door.

- Sierra 1, we're breaking the door down. - Sierra 2, upstairs clear.

Ivo, we've got a body.