#arrests #reports #riots #HeusdenZolder
Nine arrests and 30 reports have been issued so far as part of the investigation into the riots between Kurds and Turks on Sunday in Heusden-Zolder. The mayor of Heusden-Zolder, Mario Borremans (GOED), confirmed these figures on Friday, which he had announced to the municipal council on Thursday.
On Sunday, when a caravan of Kurdish PKK supporters moved from Leuven to Heusden-Zolder carrying flags and images of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, everything changed in the Kolderstraat in Heusden-Zolder. The police intervention plan was proclaimed and dozens of police officers from all Limburg police forces and the federal police descended on Kolderstraat in the Lindeman district as violent unrest broke out between Turks and Kurds. A water cannon had to repel the troublemakers.
Helicopter and police deployed en masse: a pro-Kurdish rally turns into a riot in Flanders
On Monday and the following days, calm returned to Heusden-Zolder and Houthalen-Helchteren, but the police remained vigilant. Following the riots, the Limburg police force and public prosecutor’s office set up a special team to identify the rioters involved and potentially prosecute those who spread hateful and inflammatory comments on social media.
“Sixteen judicial arrests and 14 administrative arrests were provisionally established. Ten cars were seized. Seven people were recognized and nine in total were arrested,” declared Mayor Borremans, adding that police surveillance in the municipality remains guaranteed. On Thursday, the mayor also became aware of certain photos on Instagram showing masked young people with knives and machetes. According to Mr. Borremans, these photos had already been removed on Friday. “Such photos and other information are taken seriously and will be investigated by the police and the prosecutor with a view to legal action,” said the mayor of Heusden-Zolder.
