SICK TO THE GILLS

Last Friday (1st), the death of a 27-year-old Belgian man after a brutal police attack a week before sparked rioting across the small city of Gilly, near Charleroi. The cops’ violent outburst took place in broad daylight in the middle of the street, and was all because the man, called Sandro, was thought to have taken a Coke from a shop.

Anti-police tensions reached boiling point in both Gilly and Charleroi, culminating in the local cop shop getting molotoved, and masked protesters throwing stones at police cars and the personal vehicles of police parked outside the station. On the night of Saturday (2nd), more angry youngsters fought with police for several hours.

The cops resorted to calling the Federal Police reinforcements and using a water cannon to try and restore order. In nearby neighbourhood Lodinsart the police station was also attacked with stones and metal bars, cars were set on fire in supermarket car parks and shop windows were smashed. Sunday (3rd) saw bins across the city set alight and more car burning.

Few people have been arrested for the riots, which were characterised by small groups appearing then nimbly disappearing again. Those that were nicked were all released shortly after.

* See http://sysiphus-angrynewsfromaroundtheworld.blogspot.com