A fire broke out in a restaurant in the Antwerp district of Wilrijk on Tuesday night, local police confirmed. A graffiti message was left, leading the police to suspect a deliberate arson attack.
The damage caused by the fire was limited to the building itself, which is situated on the corner of Valaardreef and Pieter Van Passenstraat. Five people living above the restaurant were taken to the hospital for check-ups with mild smoke intoxication but there were no other reported injuries.
A forensic lab, alongside other teams, arrived at the scene on Wednesday morning to conduct a trace investigation. Further investigation will be needed to identify suspects and their motive. The premises might be linked to a convicted drug criminal.
