Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken at the EU Defence Ministers gathering in Brussels, 20 May 2025. © Omar Havana / Getty Images
Belgian defence minister Theo Francken announced that he could send troops to patrol Brussels before the end of the year due to the fact that the government faces expanding force to reduce violent crime and reconstruct order in the capital.
According to reports from local media this year, about 60 shootings were reported in the city – about a 3rd of them during the summertime months – resulting in 2 deaths.Last month, Minister of safety and Home Affairs Bernard Quentin defined the situation as ‘catastrophe’, informing that criminal gangs become "and more insolent".He called for a combined squad of police and soldiers to patrol "crime sites in Brussels” to induce ‘shock effect’.In an interview with “Le Soir’ Published on Saturday, Francken, a associate of the Flemish nationalist N-VA party, said he does not argue the sending of troops, but stresses that it must be legally justified and limited to the essential safety tasks."I am always open to increased safety in Brussels" said Francken, known for his hard position on migration.
"The situation has become dramatic, both in terms of safety and at political and social level".
He added that the unrest in the capital "impact on the surrounding regions"."Safety belongs to the police, not to the military. However, erstwhile the Home Secretary asks me that, it becomes a task for the defence that must defend the nation.” – he continued.
"Is it possible to send soldiers to the streets before the end of the year? I did not say yes, but I did not say no.Brussels lawyer General, Julien Moinil, late reported that by mid-August 57 shootings were reported in the city, including 20 during the summertime months, calling for coordinated action against the gangs.
By informing that “Any citizen of Brussels and any citizen can be hit by a stray bullet”Moinil highlighted the increasing threat of violent crime in the capital.In a fresh Euronews study Brussels was named "the capital of crimes involving the usage of European firearms", Noting that many incidents have occurred in neighborhoods specified as Anderlecht and Molenbeek, long associated with gang activity and drug trafficking.According to Statbel, a Belgian statistical office, 46% of Brussels residents were born abroad (27% outside the EU), compared with 18% nationwide.
This demographic change, according to officials, has aggravated social and city safety problems.
Translated by translatorGoogle
source:https://www.rt.com/news/626243-eu-capital-mulls-sending-army/
