Around 150 people gathered at Brussels Central Station on Friday to express their outrage at the heavy-handed intervention by railway security officers (Securail) against three women of Congolese origin last week.
The incident took place at Brussels North station after the three women, one of whom is Belgian and the other two Norwegian, boarded the train in Vilvoorde. Unable to buy a ticket from the ticket machine in Vilvoorde, they approached the train conductor, who allegedly made a racist remark. At Brussels North station, the women were forced to leave the train, after which two Securail officers allegedly handled them roughly on the platform.
Footage circulating on social media shows one of the women, Grace T., being held down on the ground by Securail officers. The protesters allege that there was evidence of racism on the part of the Securail officers as well as the train conductor.
"The whole family is still shocked by what happened," said a cousin of Grace T. "We don't understand how this could have happened. My aunt and her cousins just wanted to take the train and buy a ticket in a perfectly valid way."
People gathered for a protest action against the violence and actions of Securail. Credit: Belga/James Arthur Gekiere
The protesters are demanding an apology from the railway operator SNCB/NMBS. They further call for the immediate suspension of the Securail agents involved.
On Wednesday evening, the SNCB stated that it is taking the incident "very seriously” and is launching an internal investigation into the exact circumstances of the incident.
"We will keep up the pressure on the justice system to act quickly and deliver justice," said Brenda Odinba, spokesperson for the citizens' collective that organised the protest. "It is incomprehensible that a complaint of assault and battery was accepted from one of the Securail agents against Grace. It is as if she is the perpetrator and not the victim."
Related News
- Brussels: Victim of violence by railway security agents to file new complaints
- Flemish municipalities condemn violence against social worker in Ghent
- 'Should innocent civilians die first?' Brussels Prosecutor's cry for help met with silence
- 'We deserve better': Molenbeek calls on Federal Government to tackle Brussels drug violence
