Antwerp closes main shopping street to all traffic after Nice attack

Antwerp has agreed to block the Meir shopping street to traffic, following the terrorist attack in Nice in which a man driving a lorry mowed down hundreds of people on Bastille Day, killing 84 and injuring many more.

“The pedestrian zone on and around the Meir is now blocked to motorised traffic from 11.00 to 19.00,” a spokesperson for mayor Bart De Wever said. “However, now and then vehicles find themselves where they ought not to be. To avoid that happening, we are going to place obstacles on the side streets so that it will be impossible for vehicles to access the Meir. Residents, visitors and traders have to be able to feel safe and live, work and shop in peace,” he said.

The obstacles will be concrete planters or retractable bollards, which were installed in 2012 but have not been used systematically since.

The measures were put in place this morning. Residents and shopkeepers can apply to the city for an access pass to operate the bollards, as can anyone with a garage in the pedestrian zone. Deliveries to businesses must be completed by 11.00.

Photo courtesy Meir Antwerpen