BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The murder of a Belgian city mayor whose throat was cut in a cemetery on Monday has shocked the country, and the country’s prime minister expressed “horror” at the death of the retired national lawmaker.

Citing the public prosecutor, Belgian media said Alfred Gadenne, 71, the conservative mayor of Mouscron, an industrial town of 57,000 just across the border from the northern French city of Lille, was found dead in a graveyard close to his home where he acted as caretaker and locked the gates each night.

Local news service SudInfo, citing unnamed sources, said a suspect had handed himself in to police and that the motive was unclear. The case was handed to a local prosecutor rather than to national counter-terrorism investigators.

“I have learned with horror of the brutal death of Alfred Gadenne,” Prime Minister Charles Michel, a liberal, said on Twitter. “All my thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Among the many others offering condolences was Martine Aubry, the former French Socialist party leader and long-time mayor of metropolitan Lille.

Philippe Courard, president of the parliament for Belgium’s French-speaking south, tweeted: “Terrifying. What kind of world are we living in?”</s>BRUSSELS — Belgian authorities on Tuesday were questioning a teenager suspected of killing a city mayor in a cemetery overnight by slashing his throat with a box cutter.

Alfred Gadenne, the mayor of Mouscron in western Belgium, was found dead early Monday evening in a cemetery near his home. Gadenne, 71, opened and closed the graveyard each day.

A spokesperson for the regional Crown Prosecutor's office, Frederic Bariseau, told reporters that police received a telephone call just before 8 p.m. telling them about attack, and that the caller identified himself as the perpetrator.

When police and ambulance workers arrived they found the mayor dead with his throat slashed. The 18-year-old suspect had a box cutter.

"He identified himself as the caller. He presented himself to police and offered no resistance. He was standing in front of the cemetery waiting for the police," said Bariseau, who described the young man as "very calm."

Bariseau declined to name the suspect or discuss a motive for the attack.

But when asked about Belgian media reports that the teenager's father committed suicide after being fired from his city hall job two years ago, Bariseau acknowledged that "some of the explanations that have been going around concern the death of his father."

He said the suspect would be undergoing a psychiatric assessment.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a tweet he had learned with "dread of the brutal death of Alfred Gadenne. All my thoughts are with his family and loved ones."</s>BRUSSELS — Belgian media say a teenager is suspected of killing a city mayor in a cemetery overnight by slashing his throat.

State broadcaster RTBF, citing the crown prosecutor’s office, said Tuesday that Alfred Gadenne, the mayor of Mouscron in western Belgium, was found dead in the cemetery near his home.

It said the suspect, an 18-year-old man, apparently acted for personal reasons, without providing further details.

RTBF said that Gadenne, 71, was a popular mayor who personally opened and closed the graveyard each morning and night.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said in a tweet that he had learned with “dread of the brutal death of Alfred Gadenne. All my thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”</s>The mayor of a city in Belgium was found dead with his throat slashed in a graveyard near his home on Monday evening.

The body of 71-year-old Alfred Gadenne — the mayor of the western industrial town of Mouscron — was discovered after he failed to return from the cemetery, where he was a caretaker and locked the gates each night, according to Belgian media, citing the public prosecutor. A Mouscron police secretary confirmed the details to CNN.

A suspect surrendered himself to police at the scene, first deputy prosecutor Frederic Bariseau said at at news conference on Tuesday.

The suspect, who has not been named, was holding a “cutter” in his hand when he was apprehended, although officials have yet to confirm it was the weapon used to kill Gadenne, Bariseau said.

Police believe the suspect’s motive may have been vengeance, Bariseau said, without providing further details. He will be designated a psychiatrist to determine if he is responsible for his actions or not.

Gadenne’s death has shocked the country, with the Prime Minister expressing his horror at the “brutal” killing.

“It was with alarm and sadness that I learned of Alfred Gadenne’s brutal death. All my thoughts go to his family and friends,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel tweeted on Monday.</s>A Belgian teenager is suspected of murdering a city mayor by slitting his throat in a cemetery on Monday night (11 September).

Alfred Gadenne, the mayor of Mouscron, a town in western Belgium, was found around 8pm (7pm BST) with a slashed throat in the graveyard opposite his home. He was attacked by an armed man when he went to close the cemetery's gate, police said.

An 18-year-old man has been arrested and will appear before a judge on Tuesday afternoon.

Belgian broadcaster Notélé claimed that the suspect killed Gadenne as revenge for firing his father from his position as a civil servant two years ago. The man reportedly became depressed after losing his job and killed himself earlier this year. This report has not been confirmed by police.

Belgian media described 71-year-old Gadenne as a popular mayor who personally opened and closed the graveyard each night.

Politicians, including Prime Minister Charles Michel, paid tribute to the mayor on social media.

Michel wrote that he had learned with "dread of the brutal death of Alfred Gadenne".

"All my thoughts are with his family and loved ones," he added.

Paul Magnette, the mayor of Charleroi and the former Minister-President of the French-speaking region Wallonia, said he was "horrified" to hear about Gadenne's "assassination".</s>A Belgian mayor has been found dead in a cemetery with his throat slit open, according to reports.

The body of Alfred Gadenne, 71, Mayor of Mouscron, was found by his wife outside the home they share in Luingne.

He had been out to close Luingne Cemetery for the night when he was attacked.

Emergency services were on the scene on Monday evening.</s>The murder of a Belgian city mayor whose throat was cut in a cemetery on Monday has shocked the country, and the country’s prime minister expressed “horror" at the death of the retired national lawmaker.

Citing the public prosecutor, Belgian media said Alfred Gadenne, 71, the conservative mayor of Mouscron, an industrial town of 57,000 just across the border from the northern French city of Lille, was found dead in a graveyard close to his home where he acted as caretaker and locked the gates each night.

Local news service Sud Info, citing unnamed sources, said a suspect had handed himself in to police and that the motive was unclear. The case was handed to a local prosecutor rather than to national counter-terrorism investigators.</s>BRUSSELS: Belgian police arrested a suspect after a local mayor had his throat slashed in a graveyard, authorities said Tuesday as they probed a murder that shocked the country. Alfred Gadenne, 71, was found dead on Monday in a cemetery where he opened and locked the gates every day, near his home in Mouscron, near the French border. Local media said the suspect is an 18-year-old who attacked the mayor to avenge his father, a former town employee who was sacked and committed suicide in 2015. The case sparked strong emotion on Tuesday in Belgium. Prime Minister Charles Michel on Twitter said he learned “with alarm” the death of Gadenne, who he said was widely liked by all. Mouscron, a town of about 60,000 people, is known for its pubs and nightlife that attracts revellers from nearby France.</s>Alfred Gadenne was found dead in a graveyard close to his home (Mouscron website)</s>A Belgian mayor has been found dead in a cemetery near his home with his throat slit.

His wife of Alfred Gadenne is understood to have found his body in the cemetery located just yards from their home.

The 71-year-old was the mayor for Mouscron and reportedly locked the gates to the Luingne Cemetery on a nightly basis, according to Le Soir .

He was understood to be popular with the town's residents after being voted in as mayor of Mouscron in 2006.

According to rtbf, locals described him as the "champion of the voices, simple and popular."

They reported he dedicated nearly all of his time to his duties and never took a holiday.

Belgian politicians have been paying tribute to the dedicated mayor.

Benoit Lutgen, mayor of Bastogne, said on Twitter: "My sadness is immense. I have just learned of the death of our friend Alfred Gadenne. I extend my deepest condolences to his family."

He added in a statement: "Alfred Gadenne represented what the political commitment to serving a city and its inhabitants was nobler, and he was available, efficient, caring, generous, a great gentleman who combined popularity and simplicity,", reports rtbf.

The mayor of Charleroi, Paul Magnette, said: "Horrified by the assassination of the burgomaster of Mouscron Alfred Gadenne. My deepest sympathy to his loved ones."

Elio Di Rupo, president of the Socialist Party, added: "It is with horror that I learn of the tragic death of Alfred Gadenne, his family, his friends and the Mouscronnois, my most sincere thoughts."

Minister of Agriculture for the country, Rene Collin, said: "Mouscron mourns an exemplary burgomaster of simplicity and devotion, Alfred Gadenne was an example, his loss is cruel."

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

For the latest news and breaking news visit Mirror.co.uk/news .

Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @DailyMirror - the official Daily Mirror & Mirror Online Twitter account - real news in real time.

We're also on Facebook/dailymirror - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Mirror Online.
Mouscron mayor Alfred Gadenne is found dead with his throat slashed inside the Belgian city's cemetery. A suspect has reportedly turned himself in to police.