Two plainclothes police inspectors sustained bruises and required hospital treatment after a crowd attacked them during a planned drug and alcohol control operation at the Horst Club festival on the Asiat site in Vilvoorde. The incident occurred on Sunday, October 18, during the weekend event held on October 17 and 18. Both officers are currently unable to work for several days due to their injuries.
Planned Festival Checks Lead to Physical Altercation
The confrontation began when two plainclothes inspectors attempted to check an individual on suspicion of drug possession, according to the ViMa police zone. The suspect resisted immediately, prompting multiple bystanders to intervene. The inspectors were knocked to the ground, beaten, and kicked before security guards and backup police units arrived to rescue them. Authorities subsequently arrested two suspects: a 25-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman from Schaerbeek. The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor’s office decided to summon both suspects via a fast-track procedure, requiring them to appear in court on November 24.
Did You Know? The Horst Club festival took place over the weekend of October 17 and 18 at the Asiat site in Vilvoorde, drawing regular police patrols focused on drug and alcohol enforcement.
Festival visitors criticize police intervention online
While the Vilvoorde-Machelen police zone strongly condemned the attack, stating that police officers must be able to perform their duties safely, festival-goers expressed heavy criticism online regarding the police intervention. On platforms like Instagram, visitors accused officers of using physical force, pushing people to the ground, and threatening bystanders with batons. One report described three officers escorting a visitor to a closed room over an item that was allegedly just chewing gum. Festival organizers also contacted attendees via email, stating that the police intervention was much larger than agreed upon with the city, and invited visitors to fill out a questionnaire that includes questions about police conduct.
Mayor Jo De Ro Announces Evaluation After Unexpected Unrest
Vilvoorde Jo De Ro (Anders) described the incident as an unpleasant surprise, noting that Horst festivals typically proceed smoothly. While expressing regret over the assault on the two officers, the mayor addressed the complaints about aggressive policing by stating that officers try to remain discreet while recognizing the festive context. However, De Ro emphasized that police must intervene when dealing with drug dealers or blatant users, acknowledging that maintaining order creates a delicate balance. The mayor confirmed that an evaluation will take place later in the week involving both the police and festival organizers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the incident at Horst Club take place?
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 18, during the Horst Club festival held on October 17 and 18 at the Asiat site in Vilvoorde.
When must the suspects appear in court?
The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor’s office stated that the 25-year-old man and 27-year-old woman from Schaerbeek must answer before the court on November 24.
What injuries did the police inspectors sustain?
Both inspectors suffered various bruises, were transferred to the hospital for further examination, and are unable to work for several days.
What measures will municipal authorities and festival organizers implement following this week’s scheduled evaluation to prevent similar escalations?
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