The mood in Molenbeek

The mood in Molenbeek
By Joanna Gill with GREGOIRE LORY
Share this articleComments
Share this articleClose Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below:Copy to clipboardCopied

The sight of flack-jacketed police as well as military vehicles has become more commonplace in Brussels since a lockdown in the city following the

ADVERTISEMENT

The sight of flack-jacketed police as well as military vehicles has become more commonplace in Brussels since a lockdown in the city following the Paris attacks in November. But the residents of rue des Quatre-Vents were taken by surprise when a swat team swooped on number 79, where Europe’s most wanted man was holed up.

“Of course it’s always a shock when it happens so close that’s of course what is always the most surprising,” said Bert who has been living on the street for the past five years with his wife and children. “We knew that in the neighbourhood there were people with sympathies for these groups. But you never expect it to be so close. Of course there was an action in November already just in the street behind us. It’s at the same time surprising.”

Tension between police and #Molenbeek residents at the site of #SalahAbdeslam arrest. Objects thrown, shouting pic.twitter.com/0hmYh85eTo

— Bojan Pancevski (@bopanc) March 18, 2016

Molenbeek’s new found fame is clearly unwanted with many media outlets labelling it as a ‘hotbed’ for jihadism. Maria who has lived there for years and taught in its schools laments the recent attention, “It’s not just the way in which Molenbeek has been described recently as radicalised, yes, perhaps, unfortunately for us. But you can’t just take the negatives about Molenbeek, it’s also a district with lots going for it, it’s multicultural, you should come and visit, meet the people. Molenbeek is not a ghetto.

Suspected Paris attacker is captured in Molenbeek district of Brussels after 4-month manhunt https://t.co/vYMIwC7LDCpic.twitter.com/C7V5hCSkic

— Bloomberg Business (@business) March 19, 2016

While the media presence remains visible, the tension has largely subsided as euronews correspondent Gregoire Lory reports:

“The security measures have been loosened at the site of Salah Abdeslam’s arrest. There is no police tape, a patrol car passes by from time to time. In fact, things are returning to normal on rue des Quatre-Vents. The residents of Molenbeek pass in front of the raided apartment without batting an eyelid. They are trying to turn the page.”

Share this articleComments

You might also like

Salah Abdeslam 'cooperating with police', says lawyer

France and Belgium hail Abdeslam capture

Salah Abdeslam 'key figure in Paris attacks'