90 soldiers to be deployed in Antwerp and Brussels streets

Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin (MR) wants to deploy a total of 90 soldiers on the streets of Antwerp and Brussels, he told the De Zevende Dag programme (VRT).

Some 45 soldiers would be responsible for security in the Jewish quarter of Antwerp. The other half would go to Brussels to work alongside railway police in metro and train stations, reports Bruzz. 

The minister previously promised that the soldiers would appear on the streets before the end of last year. But the implementation of the deployment is tied to another government agreement in which the Flemish CD&V will only agree to soldiers on the streets if there is also a consensus on how to address prison overcrowding. 

The timing for the deployment is unclear at this point. “I’m not going to put forward any more timings. It has to be as soon as possible. The dossier is ready,” stated Quintin. 

Once the decision is made, it will take two weeks for the military to be ready to patrol Antwerp and Brussels, he added.

Quintin also addressed the incident in Anderlecht, where a 15-year-old boy was set on fire. He wants youth specialised police inspectors in every police district. Currently, 75% of districts already include such personnel among their ranks. 

 “Why do young people do such things,” wondered the minister. He advocated for a chain of responsibility involving police and judiciary. But he also pointed out the responsibility of parents.

“I’m the minister of interior, not the minister of parenthood,” he added, highlighting the importance of community policing.

Although Belgium had a long-standing tradition of not deploying its military personnel on home soil, soldiers started security duties in January 2015 following the shootings at Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris and terror attacks in Paris and Brussels. They continued until 2020.

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