1/2 Photo: Bart Masters/Masters Multi Media.
It was grim on Thursday evening at the town hall in Sint-Michielsgestel. A group of around 300 protesters took action against the arrival of an AZC in Berlicum. The windows of the town hall were smeared with eggs, smoke flares were thrown to the building and heavy fireworks were set off. The police arrested a man who put a Cobra at the door of the building.
According to a correspondent, the atmosphere became more grim around nine. At that time there were still about a hundred people on the square. When one of the demonstrators threw a Cobra at the door of the town hall, the police intervened. The police wanted to arrest the man, followed by a fight. The moment someone started to get involved, ten agents jumped on top of the man. The man has been taken fascinated.
According to a correspondent, the company was mixed. From children of primary school age to adults. With bells, sirens, fireworks and banners, the group expressed their dissatisfaction. Agents and enforcers kept an eye on things, but stayed in the background for most of the evening.
A regular council meeting took place in the town hall on Thursday evening. Although the city council did not meet the AZC, it is outside the topic of conversation. There is criticism of the communication of the municipality around the asylum seekers’ center and the protesters are concerned about the quality of life. They want the asylum seekers to be spread over the municipality of Sint-Michielsgestel.
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A day before there was also a protest during an information meeting about the AZC. There alderman Theo Geldens was booed and called ‘liar’. Around half past nine the peace returned on Thursday evening. The activists threatened that more demonstrations will follow and “it won’t stay here”.
