“There were no major confrontations like the previous night, but several dozen individuals confronted the police in small groups. They were sporadic skirmishes,” said Oupeye mayor Serge Fillot on Sunday morning. Street furniture was defaced and two new arrests were made, one of which was judicial, “bringing the total to about thirty arrests over two nights”.
On Saturday, the local authorities had issued a ban on gatherings, hoping to restore peace. Clashes with the police were also reported in the neighboring municipality of Herstal. The Liège fire brigade was called twice for burning rubbish bins. Bus shelters were damaged and the windows of some houses were destroyed. The municipal primary school Emile Muraille was not spared either: the windows were smashed.
In both Herstal and Oupeye, a meeting is scheduled for Sunday between all the authorities involved to assess the situation. If necessary, additional measures will be taken for the night ahead.
The confrontations started Friday evening, after a young man was killed by a police bullet on Friday afternoon. According to the Liège public prosecutor’s office, the victim had driven his quad into a police officer after he had ordered him to stop. Another officer then drew his weapon and shot at the driver of the quad.
LOOK. Riots in Oupeye after man is shot dead by police