Following a series of incidents in the Alhambra district near Brussels North Station, the latest of which was a stabbing last Tuesday, the neighbourhood has been under extra police surveillance.
Local residents have been complaining for a long time about nuisance, which "is almost always related to drugs or prostitution," according to the Alhambra neighbourhood committee.
A stabbing on Tuesday around 17:30 was the latest in a series of incidents in the area. The victim was taken to hospital with several stab wounds, but his injuries were not life-threatening and he has since been discharged. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
“Last week, there was a brawl involving a homeless man. He had been causing a nuisance for quite some time," said Jan Leerman of the neighbourhood committee.
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“Not much later, a fight broke out in the Rue de Laeken in which people started hitting each other with everything they could get their hands on: traffic signs, patio tables... Apple trees were even pulled out of flower boxes,” he added.
The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone confirmed that they received two calls late on Monday evening for fights in the Alhambra district, but the people involved had already disappeared when a patrol arrived. The officers searched for those involved in the brawl based on information from a local resident, but to no avail.
Extra police surveillance
“Through the neighbourhood committee, we have heard certain things about incidents that have taken place recently,” said Carole Poncin, spokesperson for City of Brussels Mayor Philippe Close. “On basis of that, we have decided to indeed increase the police presence in the area.”
The Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone has since asked its teams to maximise their presence in the district. According to Leeman of the Alhambra Committee, peace has since returned. “There are indeed more police officers than usual. Last night, it was remarkably quiet, so it certainly seems to work.”
Leeman added that a large part of the nuisance in the neighbourhood is usually caused by squatters. The city, together with the police, is currently looking at whether it is possible to close the buildings, said Poncin.
User space
However, Leerman also noticed a positive evolution in the neighbourhood, as it is gradually becoming clear that the new Gate drugs consumption space has a positive impact on the neighbourhood. “We notice that the user space has ensured that a lot of long-time squatters have moved out of the neighbourhood."
“Still, newcomers do not immediately find their way to the centre. Additionally, people can only stay there for about 40 minutes. We are therefore looking forward to the arrival of the day centre for drug users at Tour & Taxis."
That centre is not scheduled to open until 2026.
