Expatica news

Unrest in city districts as rioting fears intensify

Update: 8 November 2005

BRUSSELS — Unrest was witnessed in various cities across Belgium on Monday night as fears grew that 12 nights of successive rioting in France might jump the border.

In total, seven cars were torched across Belgium, six in Brussels and one in the Flemish city of Sint-Niklaas. In Brussels South, police were pelted with stones.

In the Belgian capital, police reported several clashes with immigrant youth on Monday night, including an incident in which a car was overturned on the Bergensesteenweg in Anderlecht.

Vandals set fire to two cars in Sint-Gillis, also in Brussels. Both vehicles were quickly removed by towing firm Da-car.

“We have not yet been able to identify the culprits of these fires. There were no witnesses. But we have certain clues to find the culprits,” acting Sint-Gillis Mayor Martine Wille said.

Elsewhere in Brussels, two cars were torched in Vorst and two in Dilbeek, known as one of the capital’s wealthier city districts.

However, a spokesman for insurance federation Assuralia said on Tuesday people who report damage to their car due to rioting are covered if they have taken out comprehensive insurance.

Spokesman Wauthier Robyns also said damage to homes or shops is almost always covered by obligatory fire insurance.

Meanwhile, Anderlecht Mayor Jacques Simonet said tension on Monday was also witnessed on the “difficult” Lemmensplein, newspaper ‘De Standaard’ reported on Tuesday.

There were also reports of unrest in the Brussels districts of Schaarbeek, Sint-Joost and Molenbeek, prompting police to suggest groups of youths had reach prior agreements with each other.

Police had stepped up patrols in the area around the Brussels South train station on Monday night after five cars were torched in the immigrant-dense district on Sunday night.

The third successive night of unrest in Liège was also reported on Monday night.

And in what is now believed to be a separate incident, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the office of extreme right party Flemish Interest on the Canada Square in Brugge at about midnight.

No injuries or damage was reported, but five suspects were arrested after a witness noted the number plate of their car, newspaper ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ reported on Tuesday.

Prosecution officials later said the action was probably linked to divisions between the extreme left and extreme right political movements.

[Copyright Expatica News 2005]

Subject: Belgian news