There was more unrest on the streets of Brussels on Thursday evening and during Thursday night. Incidents were reported at various locations in the city. On the Verboekhovenplein in the municipality of Schaarbeek 13 minors were taken into preventative custody. News of the disturbance first appeared in the daily ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ and has since been confirmed by police sources.
In Schaarbeek groups of youths gathered in a response to calls on social media.
Katlien Breugelmans of the Brussels North Local Police Service told journalists that “It is difficult to say why exactly they gathered”. Howevers, she added that the atmosphere was tense.
After social media posts calling on youngsters to gather, groups of youths went to the Verboeckhovenplein. “They were all relatively small groups”. By 6pm calm had returned the Verboeckhoveplein. 13 youths were taken into preventative custody to ensure that public order could be maintained. All though detained were minors.
16 rubbish bins
Once again fires were started at several locations in the capital on Thursday evening. However, the scale of the vandalism and arson was far smaller than on New Year’s Eve.
According to the fire service, 16 dustbins were set on fire, the fire service was also called out to extinguish 4 scooters that had been set alight. This happened at various locations across the Brussels-Capital Region.
The fire service was accompanied by the police on several of its call outs. Walter Derieuw of the Brussels Fire Service told journalists that everything went quietly and firefighters were able to do their job unhindered.