Brussels: Police get death threats following abuse charges

Brussels: Police get death threats following abuse charges

For more on the charges of police abuse and the riots: Brussels: Police abuse leads to riots in prison, suburbs


Agents from the Brussels-South zone have received death threats following a report about the rough treatment by colleagues in the Vorst prison and the subsequent riots in the Brussels suburb of Anderlecht, according to a report by Het Laatste Nieuws. In the case of one policeman the threats got so serious that he may only work in the office and have his weapon with his 24 hours a day.

"The rioters wanted two things according to sensitive information: to set fire to the Kuregem station, and to kill the neighborhood-inspector [local police agent] from Kuregem. Point 1 they can cross out. Now it's that colleague's turn," say concerned agents in the zone.

All hell broke loose a week ago with an explosive report by the supervisory committee about rough treatment by the police in the Vorst prison. Police agents supposedly beat and humiliated several inmates.

"That report is utter nonsense," say two police agents from the South zone who are now suspected of being involved in the severe acts of violence.

Since the report, and particularly since the riots in Anderlecht, the agents have received death threats. "In our zone it's war. We fear for our lives."

Source: HLN (Dutch)