Vilvoorde (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A violent riot in Vilvoorde injured 4 police officers. Rioters targeted police with cobblestones. Mayor De Ro blamed the tension on safety efforts. Police increased patrols; the investigation is ongoing.
As VRT News reported, on July 18, 2025, 4 police officers were slightly injured during riots at Stationsplein in Vilvoorde. Around 1 a.m., a riot erupted in a certain neighbourhood, which resulted in significant damage. Mayor De Ro reported that the rioters vandalised several bus shelters and broke a window in a neighbouring building. They also damaged police cars.
The local alert system, called BIN (Buurtinformatienetwerk) or Neighbourhood Information Network, sent out alerts to all individuals living nearby. The message advised them to take shelter at home for their own safety.
Mayor De Ro said it was clear the violence was meant to target the police. He strongly spoke out against the attack. He said all violence is wrong, especially when it is aimed at the people who protect us, like the police.
What sparked the riot in Vilvoorde that injured 4 officers?
Ingrid Moriau from the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor’s office said the police were the main target of the riot. Several police teams went to the scene quickly. When they arrived, the rioters surrounded them. The police were attacked with heavy cobblestones. Police later got the situation under control.
“The suspects then scattered across several streets,”
Moriau said.
“Police gave chase and arrested nine suspects. The investigation is now underway.”
Mayor De Ro thinks it may be linked to recent safety efforts near the station in Vilvoorde. The ViMa police zone and the city have been working hard to make the area safer. The mayor said this bothers those who think the station area belongs to them.
There has been trouble in the city centre for weeks. A moped rider had been causing problems by driving dangerously. On Thursday night, July 17, 2025, police tried to stop him. He drove away and hit a police van. Police are still looking into it.
Mayor De Ro said extra officers will be in the area to keep things calm and make people feel safe. The city will also help anyone whose property was damaged in the riot. He mentioned that a new system will let victims report damage to police more quickly and easily. This will help them get support without waiting too long.
A similar event happened before in Vilvoorde in 2022. That time, a group of young people also caused trouble near the train station. They clashed with police, and some officers got hurt. Windows were broken, and other damage was done.
The riot started after more police checks were carried out in the area. Some people were not happy with the police control. The city then added more patrols and talked with local groups to try and calm things down. But the same problems happened again.
