The Belgian coastal town of Ostend has had to deal with several violent incidents in recent weeks. On Saturday, a 43-year-old woman was shot on the street in broad daylight. Mayor John Crombez announced “extra vigilance” on Sunday.
The woman was shot on Saturday in the center of Ostend. The perpetrator is still on the run. In Belgian media, Mayor Crombez calls it “terrible” what happened.
It was the fifth time in two weeks that Ostend was startled by violence. A seventeen -year -old boy was shot on August 28. Four Dutch people were arrested for this near Breda.
Two days later, the police received a hostage -taking in an apartment in Ostend. Five men, including two Dutch people, were arrested. They have since been released, but the West-Vlaanderen public prosecutor and the Ostend police are investigating the incident.
In addition, an 81-year-old man was injured in a stabbing last Wednesday. A suspect was arrested for that.
Mayor sees arms trade as a problem
The incidents have nothing to do with each other, but Mayor Crombez says that something should change in Ostend. The relatively small seaside resort seems to have to do with the same kind of problems as in Brussels and Antwerp.
“The whole of Belgium is confronted with those problems,” Crombez told VRT today, among others. “Only we are a big city in the summer, sometimes with three times as many people than in other times. But the police force stays the same size.”
The mayor mainly sees arms trade as a problem. “We are not the first city to determine this. The question arises whether there is enough action against it and we have the impression of not. The fight against the weapons must be performed.”
The Belgian Coastal Town of Ostend Has Faced Multiple Violent Incidents in recent weeks. On Saturday, a 43-year-old Woman Was Shot Dead in Broad Daylight on the Street. Mayor John Crombez Announced “Extra Vigilance” on Sunday.
The Woman was Shot Dead in the Center of Ostend on Saturday. The Perpetrator is still at Large. In Belgian Media, Mayor Crombez Calls what happened “terrible”.
It was the fifth time in two week that ostend was shocked by violence. On August 28, a Seventeen-Year-Old Boy was shot. Four Dutch National Were Arrested for This Near Breda.
Two Days later, The Police Received a Report of A Hostage Situation in An Apartment in Ostend. Five Men, Including Two Dutch Nationals, Were arrested. They have spraced leg released, but the west flanders public prosecutor’s office and the ostend police are investigating the incident.
In Addition, an 81-year-old man was injured in a Stabbing Last Wednesday. A suspect has been arrested for this.
Mayor Sees Arms Trade As A Problem
The incidents are unrelated, but mayor crombez says something has to change in Ostend. The Relatively Small Seaside Resort Seems to Be Facing the Same Child of Problems As in Brussels and Antwerp.
“The Whole of Belgium is confronted with thesis problems,” Crombez Said Today to, Among Others, VRT . “Only in the Summer Are We A Big City, Sometimes with Three Times As Many People As At Other Times. But The Police Force Remains The Same Size.”
The Mayor Sees Arms Trade as a particular problem. “We are not the first city to establish this. The question arises as to white andough action is bee tasks against it and we have the impression that it is not. The fight against weapons must be stepped up.”