Anderlecht Riot Trial Continues Following Teen’s Death in Police Chase

The trial continues on Wednesday, May 17 with the prosecutor’s requisition, reports La Libre. On Monday, the first day of the trial, eight of the nineteen defendants appeared before the Brussels Palace of Justice. The hearing was devoted to the "riots" part of the case. Some defendants are being prosecuted for rebellion, but also for vandalism (damage to police vehicles, throwing of paving stones and projectiles targeting police officers), while others are being prosecuted for violent theft. One of the defendants is being prosecuted for assault and battery on a policewoman who was in a metro station when one of the young people attacked her, it is specified.

Most of the defendants acknowledged their participation in the riots "with a sorry air". However, they claim to have targeted only the vehicles of the law enforcement agencies and not the police officers themselves. They explain their participation in the riots. "There was a call to gather peacefully, not for a riot. Then it became what you know. I threw stones and lots of things. Luckily, I didn’t hit anyone. I was unconscious, I admit it," explained one of the boys. "Was it a good idea? Not at all, Your Honor, but at the time, we didn’t believe the facts concerning Adil. We had no valid reason to do all this, except that there was anger," adds another.

When questioned about their motivations, the defendants claim not to harbor hatred towards the police. "Was I angry at the police? No, just at the police officers who killed Adil," one of the defendants summed up.