On Friday night shortly before midnight, two masked individuals targeted an old police station on Demosthenesstraat with a military-grade weapon, filming the attack while ignoring nearby surveillance cameras and residential witnesses, according to local reporting.
Residents Describe Fear and Relocation Plans
The late-night shooting left the neighborhood rattled the following morning as residents questioned how such an assault could happen in a populated residential area. According to BRUZZ, local resident Mrs. Thieleman recalled hearing loud bangs that initially sounded like fireworks. “I heard something last night that looked like fireworks,” Mrs. Thieleman told BRUZZ. “But I doubted back then whether it might be shots. And now it turns out it is.” She added that she and her family are considering moving to Flanders due to deteriorating safety. “Yes, I am afraid,” she admitted. “We are considering moving, to Flanders. It is no longer safe here.”
Another local resident, who spoke to reporters on the condition of anonymity, reported hearing the gunshots around midnight while waiting for her daughter to return home. “I live here in the street, right near the police station and heard the bangs,” she stated. “I knew immediately it was about shots. It was around midnight and my daughter was not home yet.” She noted that police blocked off the surrounding streets and mentioned she has lived in the area for five years while considering a move.
Several neighborhood residents pointed to the nearby Bospark as the epicenter of ongoing drug activity that fuels local violence. One anonymous resident avoids the park entirely, taking an alternative route to a further metro station to bypass Aumale. Another resident offered a cynical perspective on the local drug trade, suggesting that when drug dealers controlled the park, it felt safer because their presence discouraged rowdy behavior that might attract police attention.
Did You Know? As early as 2020, neighborhood residents raised concerns regarding drug dealers operating inside Bospark, prompting Mayor Fabrice Cumps (PS) to promise increased police patrols in the area.
Local Business Reactions and Community Concerns
Not all business owners in the neighborhood are planning to leave. A local merchant interviewed by BRUZZ described a sense of calm and religious fatalism regarding her family’s future in the area. “We have to stay calm,” the vendor said. “In our religion we believe that if your time to go comes, it comes, wherever you move to. We therefore do not think about moving.”
The same local merchant noted that she was home on Friday night and observed a sudden, massive police presence blocking off the streets following the gunfire. Reflecting on the broader neighborhood dynamics, she argued that the root of the problem lies with youth behavior and called for better supervision within local schools. “They need to check the schools better, that’s where things go wrong,” she stated.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on Demosthenesstraat?
Two masked men fired a military-grade weapon at the old police station shortly before midnight on Friday and filmed the attack.
How are local residents responding to the shooting?
While some residents, such as the Thieleman family and anonymous neighbors, are actively considering moving away from the area due to safety concerns, other business owners intend to remain.
What role does Bospark play in neighborhood concerns?
Local residents identify the park as a central hub for drug-related issues and public disturbances that contribute to rising neighborhood violence.
What steps do you think local authorities should take next to restore safety in this neighborhood?
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