Despite the absence of major riots, the new year did not pass without problems in Belgium: more than 140 people were arrested last night in Brussels and around 60 in Antwerp, according to the local police forces of these cities. A ban on fireworks was in effect but largely ignored.
By 01:00, Brussels police had already arrested 142 people in the capital. That’s a sharp increase from last year, when police made 74 arrests at the same time.
“In general, the Prime Minister’s decision on the possession and use of fireworks was not respected,” the police said.
The Brussels fire department, for its part, carried out 663 interventions.
“That’s almost twice as much as on a normal watch,” said spokesman Valter Deriev.
Three firefighters suffered tinnitus from the explosion of powerful fireworks, while three civilians were injured by the fireworks – including a city guard, a teenager and a seven-year-old child.
Meanwhile, local police in Antwerp arrested nearly 60 during New Year’s celebrations. Most of them were rioters who lit and threw fireworks or caused damage.
