These are shocking images from Roosendaal that are circulating on the internet: a huge blaze on a roundabout on President Kennedylaan, which even sets a car just passing by on fire. And it would certainly not be the first time that things went wrong in that place during New Year’s night. “It’s doom and gloom.”
First let’s go back to two videos that appeared on Dumpert on Wednesday. It shows how initially only some regular fireworks seem to go off in the small park in the middle of the roundabout. Until an enormous crash follows, filling the screen with meter-high flames. A car driving by at that moment immediately catches fire. It is still unknown what happened to the occupants. ‘100 liters of petrol’, one of the videos reads.
A day and a half later, the remains are still clearly visible. Not only are there still some fireworks displays here and there, the bushes and signposts on the roundabout are also completely blackened. It shows how big the conflagration was. And there is a melted blue barrel. Presumably the tank where that huge load of gasoline was ignited.
A resident of an apartment right next to the roundabout looks somewhat dejected on Thursday morning. “This has been going on for as long as I have lived here, about thirteen years. We all know about it, but we see very little police. We are sick of it.” According to him, the roundabout has become a kind of epicenter of unrest around the New Year. “These guys come from all kinds of places. They all seem to be calling each other to come here.”
“Look at those bushes. Completely burned.”
Resulting in all damage. By the way, it goes further than just the roundabout. “The bus shelters further along have also been blown up. The cleaning service has just come by to sweep up the glass shards.” It is not that easy to erase the tracks at the roundabout. “Look at those bushes. Completely burned. And those signposts are no longer readable, they are so black. It all needs to be replaced.”
It is not the first time that Roosendaal has made the news headlines with problems around the turn of the year. For example, at the end of 2020, in the middle of the corona period, the city was captivated by days of fireworks riots. At its lowest point, it resulted in certain neighborhoods being completely closed off by police checks. In recent years, peace seemed to have returned somewhat, although there was still a playful campaign in recent weeks to warn any potential miscreants. They had to be made aware of the financial consequences with ‘price tags’ on possible targets such as bus shelters and playgrounds.
“It was like war.”
In any case, that message had no effect on the roundabout, as the neighbor also saw. “It looked like war. Last week the minister was here. Then it was said that things have been going so well in Roosendaal in recent years. Well, we are back to square one. The solution? A fireworks ban. It must be an end to those bombs .”
An older couple walking past a little further on also pauses at the intersection. “Well, our daughter showed us the video,” says the woman. We have lived here for years, but we have never seen it as bad as this. They just light up a bit. I really care for our children. We have lived in good times, but this is getting worse.”
The images are also known to the municipality of Roosendaal, a spokesperson said. No one was available to comment Thursday.
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