Several people were injured in a serious fight in the Antwerp prison in Begijnenstraat on Tuesday afternoon. The fight may have started after goods were thrown over the prison wall. One of the detainees is also said to have challenged others by showing them his genitals.
“An incident took place yesterday in the Antwerp prison during the walk between some rival detainees,” prison spokesman Tom Van Wynsberge said. “The walk was turbulent and it was established that table knives were thrown from the cells onto the walk, which were subsequently recovered. Therefore, immediate assistance was requested from the police, who provided the necessary support to allow the detainees to enter and peace was restored.”
The prison system does not want to say anything about the details of the fight. According to our information, someone also provoked other detainees during the walk by taking off his clothes and showing his genitals to them. Other detainees did not feel like confrontation and kept somewhat in the background. Once the provocative prisoner pulled a knife, the situation got out of hand and more knives gradually came into play.
Two detainees suffered cuts. One above his eyebrow, which according to bystanders was quite deep, and a second on his chest. They were taken to hospital for treatment. Afterwards, those involved were all returned to their cells. Ultimately, the Mobile Unit and the rapid response team of the Antwerp police had to be deployed for the incident.
Too many prisoners
At the beginning of this week, the prison unions took action on Begijnenstraat in Antwerp. They mentioned that one of the walls is about to collapse and that there is insufficient money for the renovation of the infrastructure. This is now even more important, after the announcement by Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt (Open Vld) that the Hoogstraten prison will close its doors within a few years. The prisons in Antwerp, including the new one in the South, may have to accommodate some of the Kempen detainees.
But above all, the staff and social partners have been complaining for almost a decade about the severe overcrowding of the detention center in Begijnenstraat. Belgium today has more than 12,000 detainees, of which approximately 672 reside in Begijnenstraat. That’s about 250 above the property’s official limit.
Trade unions hold ‘fun’ action on Begijnenstraat: “Prison should stay open longer, but the facade may fall down” (+)
Guards go on strike while consultation with minister yields no results: “Promise to move ground sleepers has not been kept” (+)
Tortured man’s girlfriend sues cellmates for extortion: “If she didn’t pay, the torturers continued as usual” (+)
This content contains cookies from social media or other external platforms. Because you have disabled these cookies, this content remains hidden. Accept cookies from social media to still display the content.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
