5 Belgian soldiers injured in a brawl in Portugal were attacked by Portuguese people the Belgian defence ministry says, citing the initial results of an investigation by the Belgian federal prosecutor's office. According to Portuguese media, a 30-year-old man has now been arrested in Beja.
A Belgian detachment is currently in Portugal as part of an exercise. During a trip to a bar in the town of Beja a brawl broke out, injuring five soldiers from the 15th Wing Air Transport. One of them had to stay at the city's hospital for overnight observation.
"According to the initial results of the investigation by the Belgian federal prosecutor's office, five Belgian soldiers were attacked by several Portuguese nationals," the defence ministry said in an update on the incident. The five servicemen "are all doing well and are back with their detachment that will return to Belgium at the end of this week".
Portuguese media report that a 30-year-old man was arrested in Beja yesterday. He is considered to be the prime suspect in an attack on at least one Belgian. He is at the disposal of the Polícia Judiciária, Portugal’s national criminal investigation department that focuses on serious crime.
The Belgian defence ministry is supporting the Portuguese police investigation that is ongoing.
An earlier incident in Norway
The incident in Portugal is reminiscent of one in Norway in February. There, four Belgian soldiers were arrested after a brawl in a café.
The Belgian soldiers were also taking part in a military exercise, in the Norwegian region of Møre og Romsdal.