In the Zegepralstraat in Borgerhout, just before 1 a.m., fireworks were thrown at a home belonging to the family of kick boxer Jamal Ben Saddik. “Five people were taken to hospital with minor hearing damage, they were allowed to return home later,” said Kristof Aerts, spokesman for the Belgian police.
Kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik’s father was at home when the heavy fireworks exploded in front of his home. There is quite a bit of damage. The stone sill of his house and the frame of the front door have been smashed to pieces. The bang also dragged the doorbell and letterbox off the wall, a layer of the glass above the front door is broken as well.
The attack is said to be aimed at Jamal’s brother, also known as ‘Urbanus’. “I have no idea why this happened,” he said. “Would my son have a problem? I don’t know.” There are two sturdy surveillance cameras on the house. “The police took the images with them,” said father Ben Saddik.
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Portrait of kick boxer Jamal Ben Saddik.
ANP/HH
‘No idea why’
Ten minutes after the explosion in Borgerhout, heavy fireworks also exploded at a house in the Vrijhandelstraat in Merksem. Several homes and cars were damaged. The fireworks exploded in front of a building at the beginning of the street. “We have no idea why this happened,” responds the son of the house. “My parents live here. I have nothing to do with drugs or the port.” According to him, the house has nothing to do with the Ben Saddik family. “I only know it from television.”
“Whether there is a link between the two facts is being investigated,” says Aerts. “A possible link with the drug environment is also being investigated.” That link would be there in both cases, reports Het Nieuwsblad.
Kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik alias Goliath is mentioned in several drug cases, he was arrested in March of last year because he is suspected of being one of the sellers of phones with Sky ECC. Last night’s attacks are said to be mainly aimed at the brother of Jamal ‘Urbanus’, also known in the drug scene.
Damage in the Zegepraalstraat in Borgerhout, Belgium.
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