Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Mayor Mathias De Clercq and Police Chief Filip Rasschaert discussed the police operation to clear Bloemekenswijkbos for a storage facility by De Lin. The police arrested 17 activists, some of whom were professional climbers, amid concerns over excessive police presence, including helicopters and nearly 100 officers.
In the city council, Mayor Mathias De Clercq and Police Chief Filip Rasschaert discussed the police operation to clear the Bloemekenswijkbos, where a company called De Lin plans to build a new storage facility. Construction was delayed for four months because activists occupied the site, believing the forest should be preserved due to its natural importance in a crowded city. Despite a court order for the activists to leave, they remained on the site.
Why did police clear Bloemekenswijkbos in Ghent with 100 officers?
Last week, the police cleared the Bloemekenswijkbos area. Mayor De Clercq said he was informed but had no control over the operation. The police chief, with help from a bailiff, decided how many officers were needed to keep things safe. Council members Jeroen Van Lysebettens and Tom De Meester said the police presence was too much for residents, with some watching in tears. They wanted to know why so many officers were sent, which included helicopters and nearly 100 specialized officers.
The police arrested 17 people, including 9 men and 8 women. Eleven climbed into trees, and two needed to be rescued by helicopters. The police chief said they asked the activists to come down, but they refused. Before the operation, a risk analysis showed that the activists were from different groups, including some from abroad, and some were professional climbers. The safety of everyone, including the police, was the top priority. The activists were held for 12 hours before they could take their belongings. The police chief noted that the activists cooperated well after the operation, calling it a short and effective action.
