Trouble flared in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout and the Brussels municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek following Morocco’s defeat in the final of the Africa Cup on Sunday evening. Several troublemakers were arrested in Borgerhout and in the vicinity of the Zwarte Vijvers metro station in Molenbeek.
Unrest in Borgerhout and Molenbeek following Morocco’s defeat in the final of the Africa Cup
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Senegal’s 1-0 victory in what was nail-biting final led to disappointment among Moroccan fans. While the overwhelming majority of them behaved themselves, a small minority engaged in vandalism and violence.
Wouter Bruyns of the Antwerp Local Police Service told the press agency Belga that on the Turnhoutsebaan in Borgerhout it was “relatively quiet”. He added that “It was busy and there were a few people whose intentions were less than honourable intentions”.
Eggs were thrown at a bus, fireworks were set off and stones were thrown at the police.
There was also a collision between 2 vehicles. “9 people were taken into preventative custody. These include 9 people that had incited unrest and 2 people that had thrown stones”.
Molenbeek
In the Brussels municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek, several hundred youths gathered on the square outside the Zwarte Vijvers metro station. There was some unrest with youth throwing fireworks and crowd barriers. A firebomb was set off in the middle of the square at the entrance to the metro stations.
A group of volunteers that included the municipal aldermen Saliha Raïss (Flemish socialist) and Dirk De Block (Far-left PVDA/PTB) tried to calm the youths.