At least 6 people have been injured, one of whom seriously in rioting in the Limburg municipalities of Heusden-Zolder and Houthalen-Helcheren. One person has been apprehended and is currently in custody. The rioting broke out after a group of people of Turkish descent clashed with a group of Syrian Kurds.
At least 6 people inured, one of whom seriously, during rioting in two Limburg municipalities
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The Kurds had celebrated the Persian feast of Newruz on Sunday. After the festivities the Kurds drove in a convoy to Heusden-Zonder, a Limburg municipality with a sizable number of residents that are of Turkish descent.
VRT News’ reporter Kerlijne Everaet says that the group drove around rather provocatively in an area of Heusden-Zonder that is has a large population of people of Turkish descent. The situation soon got out of hand.
Alderman Alain Yzermans (socialist) told VRT News that "The news spread quickly on social media and “Various groups dispersed to several locations in Heusden-Zolder en Houthalen-Helchteren”.
More and more people came onto the streets and the situation degenerated into brawls between Kurds and Turks. Car windows were smashed, flags were burned, and several people were physically assaulted. A large number of police were deployed. “These included officers from several local police services. A helicopter was also deployed and a water canon was used to drive the two groups apart”, Kerlijne Everaert reports. One person was detained. They are curently in custody.
Vicky Flossy of the CARMA Local Police Service told VRT News that "The police are currently examining CCTV images in an effort to identify additional suspects".
Mr Flossy added that "At least 6 people were injured, 1 of whom seriously."
Calmed returned
By 11pm the situation was back under control and there were no new incidents during the night.
The Mayor of Heusden-Zolder Mario Borremans (local list). Told VRT News that the local and federal police services continued to patrol the area during the night.
A crisis meeting to discuss Sunday evening’s events is taking place this morning. Mayor Borremans says that the meeting will examine what further measures can be taken to ensure that the situation remains calm.