UPDATERiots broke out in the Limburg neighborhoods of Lillo in Houthalen-Helchteren and Lindeman in Heusden-Zolder on Sunday evening. “Many Turks felt provoked,” we hear in Heusden-Zolder. The police arrived en masse and eventually used water cannon. Several people received serious blows. At least one person also suffered serious cuts. Several people were arrested, but peace has now returned.
The reason for the riots is said to be a conflict between the Turkish community and a group of supporters of the pro-Kurdish party PKK. “Today they celebrate Novruz, a festival that can be compared to Easter,” it sounds in Heusden-Zolder. “They drove around some neighborhoods where many Turks live with a PKK flag on their car. Many Turks felt provoked by this.”
Mayors Alain Yzermans of Houthalen-Helchteren and Mario Borremans of Heusden also confirm that the commotion started after several cars with flags drove around neighborhoods in Heusden-Zolder and Houthalen-Helchteren. “A skirmish then arose with a resident, which escalated within the Turkish community,” says Borremans.
Cut wound in the chest area
Hundreds of people took to the streets to protest, which turned into riots. Some cars were damaged and windows were broken with batons. The provincial intervention plan was then announced. A police helicopter flew above the area and several Limburg police forces were called in to calm the situation. The water cannon was also used. Several arrests have been made.
Police CARMA also confirms the conflict between Kurds and Turks. According to the police, the groups of people are constantly moving in the two neighborhoods and cars are being damaged with sticks. The local police of Heusden-Zolder are asking on social media to avoid Kolderstraat due to a large-scale police intervention. “We call on everyone to maintain calm and follow our guidelines on site,” it said.
It is also very restless this evening in the adjacent Lillo district in Houthalen-Helchteren. Several people were severely beaten and at least one victim suffered a serious laceration to the chest area.
By 11:30 p.m., calm seemed to have returned to Houthalen and Heusden and the provincial intervention plan was no longer in effect. “Although the police will continue to patrol all night. We hope that things will remain calm now,” says Mayor Borremans.
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Tags: calm Houthalen HeusdenZolder heavy riots police continue patrol night HouthalenHelchteren
