A rescue intervention on Avenue Jean Volders in Saint-Gilles went very badly on New Year’s Eve. Firefighters and paramedics took care of a person who had fallen from a balcony on the fourth floor of a building. So in the middle of the intervention, a deluge of projectiles fell on the rescuers. “After an unsuccessful resuscitation attempt, the paramedics were targeted by fireworks and had to withdraw”, explains the spokesperson. “The police secured the scene. Our men got through that rough night without physical injury, but psychologically it’s a different story.”
Thierry Belin, national union of police and security personnel (SNPS) reacted in RTL INFO 13 the day after the tragedy: “We are asking for tolerance with regard to the perpetrators of this violence. We had started to see violence against the paramedics but we took an additional step. We were stoned and attacked people who were trying to save a life. It’s obviously criminal. It’s taking on an unprecedented scale. It’s getting really worrying. We haven’t had a firm and severe response. It’s taking on an unprecedented scale. If we don’t provide a firm and severe response to the authors we are heading for disaster.”
“The thugs identify all people who represent the State, the public authority. I am told that we must try to understand young people, but there is nothing to understand! These are criminal acts. We can make the party, have fun. There, we don’t have fun anymore. We put people’s lives in danger. It’s unacceptable.”
The mayor says he is “traumatized”
The mayor of Saint-Gilles, who spent the evening with the rescue teams, was on site. “I confess that, as a young mayor, I am particularly traumatized. And this is absolutely not a reflection of the young people of our neighborhoods, it is not a reflection of our neighborhoods. These are some individuals that we should confront to their responsibilities”says Jean Spinette.
Still in shock, the paramedics have so far not filed a complaint. But for local authorities, it is necessary to empower young people. “I would like them to have alternative sentences to go to the burns hospital to find out or to accompany the intervention forces when they are confronted with people with burn wounds, to realize what is going on behind because I have the impression that they do not understand”continues the mayor of Saint-Gilles.
The municipality is now focusing on awareness. The young people identified will be summoned with their parents so that such events do not happen again.