Belgian news in brief, 15 July 2005

Animal rights activists convicted

Dendermonde Court convicted on Friday two members of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) on charges of criminal damage and forming a gang to commit criminal acts. On 22 May, the two men, aged 22 and 26, smashed the windows of a fur shop and attacked a McDonalds restaurant in Aalst. They were arrested shortly after. The older man, who had previously been convicted of assault, was sentenced to 12 months jail, six of which were suspended. The 22-year-old was sentenced to 50 hours community service and placed on probation with a six-month jail term hanging over his head.

Vorst prison guards end strike

Vorst prison warders have voted to end a three-week strike after Federal Justice Minister Laurette Onkelinx promised to address staff capacity problems. The prison guards had demanded more staff and safer working conditions and Onkelinx relented, agreeing to employ 13 new warders. Five new warders have already started work. The strike is expected to end on Saturday.

Bomb scare at Antwerp Central

Antwerp Central Station was evacuated at about 4.30pm on Thursday in a bomb scare. A train conductor wanted to screen a man of African origin, but the man fled and left behind on a train a cardboard box. The bomb explosive squad DOVO was called in and the station and immediate vicinity was eated. Two metro lines were also shut down. But the box did not contain explosives and the all-clear was given shortly before 7pm.

Museum on World Heritage List

The Plantin-Moretus complex in Antwerp has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List during a meeting in Durban, South Africa. The Plantin-Moretus site is a medieval building including a museum where visitors are guided through 300 years of printing activity.

Subject: Belgian news