Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – 3 De Lijn ticket inspectors in Antwerp were attacked by a 17-year-old passenger without a ticket during a fare check. Police intervened, and the inspectors are off work for 4 days.
As VRT News reported, 3 De Lijn ticket inspectors in Antwerp were forced to take 4 days off work after a violent incident on a city bus. After the incident on a De Lijn bus in Antwerp, 2 ticket inspectors received medical treatment immediately at the scene. The 3rd inspector went to a doctor later for care.
They will not be able to return to work until Monday, Sep 22, 2025. The attack by the 17-year-old passenger included pushing, kicking, spitting, and biting. Although the inspectors were not seriously injured.
What happened when 3 De Lijn inspectors were attacked by a 17-year-old in Antwerp?
Frederik Wittock, spokesperson for De Lijn, stated that the company could review the bus camera footage if necessary. However, many people witnessed the incident, and the police also filed a report.
“The facts speak for themselves. We are confident that our team of inspectors acted correctly,”
Wittock said.
For now, De Lijn has no intention of filing a complaint against the teenage female. The company emphasised the professionalism of its inspectors and the need to protect staff as they perform their roles.
The incident occurred on the evening of September 17, 2025, outside of the Cadix Hospital, when 2 inspectors asked a 17-year-old girl to show them her bus ticket. When the girl was unable to show a valid ticket, she became aggressive. Witnesses indicated that she attacked the inspectors by punching and shoving them.
The incident spiralled out of control when she kicked, spat on, and even bit the staff. Frederik Wittock, a De Lijn spokesperson, stated the inspectors behaved professionally, but they were left traumatised following the attack. All 3 inspectors were required to stop working for several days to recuperate from the incident.
Officers arrived promptly and took action to diffuse the situation. Officers took a teenage girl off the bus, and she was taken home. Officials say she will be interviewed about her conduct later. De Lijn has told the press that its inspectors are trained to handle difficult passengers but that elevated aggression, like the situation described, is extremely difficult to manage.
A violent incident on a De Lijn bus occurred on June 16, 2025, in Antwerp. A 76-year-old man was fatally stabbed during the attack. The same incident also left a bus driver and another passenger injured.
As a result, services on bus line 36 were temporarily halted. Following this event, unions demanded stronger safety measures for staff. They called for a visible security presence and the installation of secure cabins for bus drivers.
