Belgium: 4th night of torchings

2005-11-10 14:03

Brussels - Cars were burnt in towns across Belgium for a fourth straight night on Thursday, and while Molotov cocktails were thrown no riot-like unrest was reported, officials said.

The government crisis centre, which is watching for any major spillover from violence sweeping France, said firefighters were called out to incidents notably in Brussels, Antwerp and Mechelen, north of the capital.

In Brussels, where 10 cars were torched, incidents again focused on districts with large immigrant populations, including Anderlecht, Molenbeek and Schaerbeek, a spokesperson said.

"We are again talking about isolated incidents and at no point was there increased tension or any unrest," he said.

Elsewhere a number of people were arrested, notably in the northern town of Winterslag, while police were told by one group of protestors that they had been "inspired by the riots in France", the Belga news agency said.

In the previous three nights at least 24 cars had been torched. Police have increased patrols notably in Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges, but there have so far been no injuries.

The violence that has wracked France's city suburbs for two weeks showed clear signs of being on the wane on Thursday, as police reported another decrease in the number of overnight incidents.

- AFP