Several young people fired an air rifle at De Lijn buses in Antwerp Tuesday evening, police said.
Reacting to the news, the socialist trade union BTB-ABVV stated that this is not an isolated case, calling Wednesday for urgent talks.
"Fears of escalating violence increased after last night’s incident," the union explained. "Two buses were shot at. In one of them, not only the driver but passengers were present. Consequently, the bus in question, number 36, will not be in operation tomorrow/Thursday.”
A request for consultation was sent by the union to the management of De Polder, a subsidiary of De Lijn. “We’re also appealing to representatives of the city of Antwerp and De Lijn to attend. Driver safety is at stake,” stressed the union.
Currently, a private firm is tasked with ensuring security in the Linkeroever area, where the attacks took place. "But this personnel is not present beyond office hours, which is when the incidents occur," the socialist union noted.
On Tuesday evening, police searched the vacant building from where the assailants shot, but found no one.
