The Antwerp Local Police Service says that this New Year’s Eve was “quieter than in previous years”. A total of 49 people, including 28 minors, were detained across the city. 19 of the 51 youths that had been issued with house arrest orders left their homes regardless. The mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) says that “there will be consequences” for them.
A “quieter than normal” New Year’s Eve for police in Antwerp, 19 breaches of house arrest orders
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Kim Bastiaens of the Antwerp Local Police Service told VRT News that "The first disorder didn’t occur until after midnight. This mainly involved fireworks being set off in the streets and minor acts of arson, especially on the Terlooplein, Veldstraat and Sint-Bernardsesteenweg. Fortunately, we were able to act very quickly there and there were no injuries”.
The police detained 49 people. 39 of these were taken into preventative custody and later released. The other 10 are suspected of criminal acts and will be questioned by an examining magistrate.
House arrest
The mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever had issued 51 youths with house arrest orders. Mr De Wever told VRT Radio 1 that “‘I stress these are youths that committed serious misdemeanors in the past, such as arson, gay bashing, stalking the police, vandalism, extortion and so on. Three of the 51 youths that had been issued with house arrest order were in prison on Tuesday"
In the end, 19 youths did not comply with their house arrest order. Mr De Wever told the VRT that “One of them was also arrested for disturbing public order. So, he was not only outside, but was also hanging out. He had also only just been released from prison, on New Year's Eve.”
De Wever stressed that those that breach their house arrest orders will suffer consequences. “I do think you have to send a signal that the city is not a playground for louts. Because these are louts, boys that are off the rails. I hope that they can find the way back to the right path. However, there are also 27-year-olds among them and here you are talking about criminals.”
If it were up to De Wever, he would tackle New Year's Eve the same way next year. The mayor of Antwerp is still waiting for a final ruling from the Council of State on this. “But we are hopeful about the legality of the measures.”