“From Dubai, those people give orders to murderers who come from the Netherlands. There is nothing you can do about it from Antwerp,” Antwerp mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) responds to the drug violence in his city at ATV. He urgently asks for more resources from the federal judicial police to be deployed for Antwerp. “For years I have been begging for these criminals to stop before it gets worse. And then a child has to die before there is a real reaction for the first time.”
The reaction comes a day after an eleven-year-old girl died in a shooting incident in Merksem. There was fire at the garage door, but there was a living space behind it. The girl died from the fatal impact of a bullet, the autopsy report confirms on Tuesday. Although, according to the public prosecutor’s office, the family is not itself involved in drug trafficking, according to De Wever there are indications that the shooting can be linked to settlements in the drug environment.
Army to port
The mayor of Antwerp is therefore asking ATV for more decisiveness from the federal government. “Convene that National Security Council and put a plan on the table.” He realizes that implementation will take time, but suggests interim emergency solutions. “First, send people to the port. Gather people from the federal police, send the army if necessary, I don’t care, but at least start guarding that harbor and make it a priority to strengthen the judicial services behind it.”
De Wever says he regularly speaks with the competent federal ministers Annelies Verlinden (Interior Affairs, cd&v) and Vincent Van Quickenborne (Justice, Open Vld). “They understand what is happening here and have absolutely good intentions. But that the government should come together and make decisions. I can’t hide it anymore, I’m furious. Something has to be done now.”
Gigantic challenge
Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open Vld) rejects the criticism of his government. “It is not the time to point the finger. We work very closely with the cities. Also with mayor De Wever. We are using all resources to tackle this problem, but it is a huge challenge.”
“The fight against drug crime is an absolute priority,” emphasizes De Croo. “A priority in the city of Antwerp and a priority for the federal government. A lot of resources are used. But it remains a daily task. What happened yesterday shows the seriousness of this. It doesn’t just affect those who are involved in drugs. It also affects an innocent 11-year-old girl.”