The mayor of Borgerhout, Els van Doesburg, has imposed an administrative closure on an eatery located in the Kroonstraat for a period of 1 month. The decision follows significant vandalism discovered on the night of September 9th to 10th, where all nine windows of the establishment were smashed. A fire extinguisher was also found inside the premises, potentially used during the destruction.
The scale and targeted nature of the damage indicate that it was likely not random vandalism. Combined with other police intelligence, authorities suspect the incident is related to a conflict within the drug milieu. The exact motive remains unclear, and the perpetrators have not yet been identified. Police perceive a serious risk that the establishment could be targeted again, endangering local residents, passers-by, customers, and staff.
To safeguard public order and safety and restore peace to the area, the mayor has decided to preventively close and seal the establishment. The closure is effective from October 12th to November 11th. This prohibition includes the preparation and sale of meals, as well as takeaway and delivery services from the premises. Police will reassess the threat level before the closure period ends, and the closure may be extended if the security risk persists.
