The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 5 last year around 7:15 p.m., in the run-up to the Champions League match between Club Brugge and FC Barcelona. The visiting fans were supposed to be taken to the Jan Breydel Stadium by shuttle buses, but a bus suddenly caught fire due to pyrotechnic material. No one was injured.
An FC Barcelona supporter was arrested as a suspect at the scene. In the meantime, the 25-year-old Spaniard already appeared before the Bruges criminal court for accidental arson. At that trial, it turned out that AC had not started the Bengali fire itself. The Catalan picked up the torch and quickly put it away. In those circumstances, the Public Prosecution Service demanded a three-month suspended prison sentence. The judge will make a ruling on April 2.
Hard core
The defense requested an acquittal because the fire allegedly started before C. picked up the torch. In addition, master Simon Bekaert previously submitted a complaint with civil proceedings to the investigating judge. The defendant’s lawyer hopes this will lead to an investigation into the real perpetrator of the arson. Based on camera images, it appears that it is a member of the hard core, who has also caused problems in Dortmund.
According to the public prosecutor’s office, the complaint was inadmissible because C. would not have suffered any disadvantage. However, the Bruges council chamber ruled on Wednesday that the complaint was admissible. C. was on the bus himself and could therefore have a possible interest as a civil party. On the other hand, the council chamber decided that the investigating judge does not have to conduct a judicial investigation. In that context, it was noted that proceedings before the criminal court are already underway. According to the council chamber, C.’s lawyer can request additional investigation in that file. The real perpetrator could be prosecuted in this way, possibly also via a direct summons.
