Clashes between Turkish and Kurdish communities in Belgium

From Liège to Limburg, Ghent to Brussels, members of the Turkish and Kurdish diaspora in Belgium have been embroiled in a series of violent confrontations over the last few days which has taken the country by surprise.

Six people were injured on Sunday after a family of Kurds who had celebrated Nowruz – the start of the Persian New Year – were attacked in Heusden-Zolder and Houthalen-Helchteren. But there are conflicting versions of the story.

Платная статья: https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/983695/clashes-between-turkish-and-kurdish-communities-in-belgium-whats-going-on

A city in the heart of the European Union is engulfed in a "sinister atmosphere" after being caught in the midst of violent clashes between two groups.

Turkish and Kurdish communities in Belgium have been at war with each other since March 24, when a group of Turks attacked Kurds celebrating their New Year's Eve in Heusden-Zolder.

This prompted the organisation in Brussels of a pro-Kurdish demonstration. However, this march was marred by violence.

On Monday, a café in Cheratte known for being attended by the local Turkish community was attacked, which resulted in the injury of six customers.

Violence moved to the city of Ghent on March 26, where a group of youngsters vandalised a Kurdish café.

During the night between March 27 and 28, the local police carried out 22 arrests against the backdrop of violence between Turks and Kurds. Half of those arrested were minors, and weapons were found with them.

But this didn't stop the attacks, with a Kurdish bakery ending up vandalised on the same night.

On Wednesday, Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo called on both the Turkish and Kurdish communities in his country to bring violence to an end.

He added any demonstration in support of PKK - an organisation proscribed as terrorist in the UK and the EU among other nations - would not be tolerated.

He said: "Freedom of opinion is guaranteed in Belgium, but expressions in support of a terrorist organisation like the PKK will not be tolerated. This violence must stop. Calm must return. We must not import foreign conflicts into our country."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/the-eu-city-gripped-by-wave-of-violence-as-shops-attacked-and-youths-carry-weapons/ar-BB1kHV7w