Several SNCB inspectors staged a symbolic protest in Courtrai on Saturday, after two of their colleagues were attacked by a passenger on Friday afternoon. “Some inspectors were not checking tickets”, says an SNCB spokesman. The attacker was placed under arrest by the investigating judge, the Termond section of the Eastern Flanders Prosecutor’s office revealed.
The inspectors were attacked by a 22 year old Brussels resident in Denderleeuw, during a check that went awry. They had to be taken to hospital, and were off work for two days. Earlier in the day, the man had attacked another inspector at Zottegem, who wasn’t injured. “The local police were called in. The train was cancelled, and the passengers had to get off, which created a 20 minute delay”, the SNCB spokesman added.
Following the attack, several inspectors decided not to check tickets on Saturday.
The suspect was arrested and appeared before the investigating judge of the Eastern Flanders Prosecutor’s office. He could get two years in prison and a 1,200 Euro fine, the Prosecutor’s office has said.
(Source: Belga)
