Brussels: Riots

Riots broke out in central Brussels Monday night. A cafe and several cars were set on fire, according to the local fire brigade and police. The cause of the riots was the death of a man in the Vorst prison. The man, a 25 year old suspect of several car thefts, was in detention and put in an isolation cell. Due to his agitation he was given sedatives. When jailers checked in several hours later, they found him dead.

The public prosecution has started an investigation into why he received sedatives without a previous checkup.

The man died Sunday, but the news was announced only on Monday night, which led to riots in the center of the city. Around 9pm, about 50 kids of North-African origin set fire to a cafe and several cars. The residents living above the cafe escaped without injury. The police came out en-masse to keep things in check. Around 11pm, the fire brigade was called out again to put out a fire which had been set to another car. Windows of several stores were broken.

Source: De Standaard (Dutch), VRT (Dutch)

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