Fedasil reported 1,217 serious violent incidents in and around asylum seeker reception centres last year.
These statistics were shared on Friday by the newspapers De Standaard, Het Nieuwsblad, and Het Belang van Limburg.
Fedasil spokesperson Filip Van der Elst clarified that there is no precise definition of a serious incident. “It can involve fights, brawls, physical assaults, sexually inappropriate behaviour, threats, or vandalism,” he explained. However, severe insults are generally not included in these figures.
Additionally, the Red Cross, which operates several reception centres on behalf of Fedasil, is only required to report the most serious incidents.
