A group of armed people attacked a squat in the Brussels municipality of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean around midnight on Monday and injured several people living there, as well as a police officer who was called to the scene.
The Brussels-West police zone received a call just after midnight on Monday about a group of armed people who had entered a squat in the Rue de Liverpool in Molenbeek. When police arrived at the scene, the group fled. While the police could not confirm the size of the group, reports in Het Nieuwsblad mention around 40 people.
"During the chase, a police officer became isolated from his fellow officers. At Place Lemmens, the officer was hit on the head with a cobblestone," Martijn Baes, chief inspector and spokesperson for the Brussels-West police zone, told VRT.
The man was taken to hospital and is unfit to work indefinitely, but has since been able to leave the hospital. In addition to the officer, the armed group also injured several people during the attack on the squat.
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"It is a squat where mostly undocumented people are staying," Baes said. "The squat's residents are receiving assistance from Victim Support. With the municipality and social partners, we are now trying to find a solution for them. The police have also stepped up their presence in the area."
The exact circumstances of the attack on the squat and the officer are not clear. A judicial enquiry was launched.
