Police made 206 arrests on New Year's Eve in Brussels. One of them is now making headlines, as it involved a STIB agent who was on duty at Beekkant metro station at the time, La Libre Belgique reports.
Unions are denouncing a police blunder and alleging a blow to the head, while Brussels transport network STIB has opened an internal investigation. The police deny any violence.
The incident occurred at around 21:00 on Sunday evening in Molenbeek, when a STIB mechanic left the Beekkant metro station where he was working that night, most likely to take a break. "A group of young people were near him and they were being chased by police officers for setting off firecrackers," a witness told La Libre.
Unfortunately, the officer was then caught in the crossfire, forced to his knees and handcuffed. STIB sources added that "he received a blow to the head from a police officer." The police deny this, however.
The police reportedly released him after checking that he was indeed a STIB agent – despite wearing uniform and carrying equipment on the night.
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When contacted, the officer in question declined to comment. Under the terms of his employment contract, he is obliged to remain silent, and STIB will not permit him to divulge any information for the time being.
The Brussels West police zone, through Commissioner Jean-Marc Goessens, confirmed that "a meeting with STIB took place on Tuesday. Based on the surveillance camera images, no reprehensible acts were observed. There was no beating".
'Intolerable attack'
In addition to opening an internal investigation, STIB called an emergency meeting of the joint safety committee at 10:00 on Thursday, at the request of unions, to explain their version of events.
In the meantime, the permanent staff are pointing the finger at "an intolerable attack, especially coming from the forces of law and order. These acts have provoked strong emotions among all the maintenance agents at the various depots."
