Brussels New Year’s Eve Marked by Arson, Attacks on Emergency Services, and Dozens of Arrests
A surge in unrest marred New Year’s Eve celebrations in Brussels, with authorities reporting numerous incidents of arson, attacks on police and emergency personnel, and a meaningful number of arrests. Despite a bolstered security presence, the Brussels Capital Ixelles police zone confirmed a challenging night across the region.
Widespread Unrest and Administrative Arrests
Belgian authorities responded to a wave of disturbances throughout the night, resulting in 51 administrative arrests across the Brussels region. The highest concentration of arrests occurred in Brussels North (Saint-Josse, Schaerbeek, Evere) with 23 individuals taken into custody. Eleven arrests were made in the West zone (Molenbeek,Berchem-Sainte-Agathe,Koekelberg,Ganshoren,Jette),seven in the Midi zone (Anderlecht,forest,Saint-Gilles),and ten in the Montgomery zone (woluwe-Saint-pierre,Woluwe-Saint-Lambert,Etterbeek).All arrests were documented in accordance with the General Police Regulations.
Attacks on First Responders and Public Infrastructure
The festivities were overshadowed by deliberate attacks on those responding to the chaos. Police officers, rescue teams, and Stib (Brussels public transport) staff were repeatedly targeted by fireworks-a dangerous and unacceptable escalation of the unrest. This resulted in damage to Stib trams and buses, as well as public property. A substantial amount of pyrotechnic equipment was seized by law enforcement.
“Police officers, rescue teams and also Stib staff were, on several occasions, targeted by fireworks during interventions,” a spokesperson for the brussels Capital Ixelles police zone stated.
Beyond the attacks, authorities also dealt with numerous reports of arson. Several vehicles were set ablaze, and numerous open fires were ignited across the region.
Injuries Reported Amidst the Chaos
The unrest resulted in injuries to first responders.Two officers from the Midi zone were injured during a road check that escalated, and a colleague from the Brussels Capital – Ixelles zone sustained injuries from fireworks. Tragically, a 12-year-old child was also seriously injured during the evening’s events.
Fire Service Strained by Strike Action
The Brussels Fire Brigade faced a particularly challenging night, operating with a reduced workforce due to ongoing strike action. Approximately 83% of the planned guard force was available, necessitating the deployment of external reinforcements from the Red Cross of Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia, the medical component of the Belgian army, the Vlaams-Brabant West emergency zone, and the Oost-Vlaanderen-Oost emergency zone.
“the interventions took place in a particular context, marked by a strike action within the Brussels Fire Brigade,” explained Walter Derieuw, spokesperson for the Brussels firefighters. “Consequently, around 83% of the planned guard force was present.”
The fire brigade has opted to release only consolidated and confirmed data, based on validated intervention reports, rather than precise figures at this time.
antwerp Reports House Arrest Violations
Neighboring Antwerp also experienced a turbulent New Year’s Eve. Local police conducted checks on 17 individuals subject to administrative house arrest, imposed by Mayor els van Doesburg (N-VA) on known troublemakers. seven violations of these house arrest orders were recorded. Data regarding compliance with similar measures in the City of Brussels,where five individuals were placed under house arrest,has not yet been released.
The events of New Year’s Eve in Brussels and Antwerp underscore the challenges faced by authorities in managing public safety during large-scale celebrations and highlight the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures to prevent future unrest.
