The activist group ‘Tyre Extinguishers’ deflated the tyres of several SUVs between Thursday night and early Friday morning on the streets of Ghent.
Local police confirmed receipt of multiple calls about deflated tyres overnight, but could not give an exact number.
Similar actions were conducted in April and October 2023, and in February, March, and April 2024.
However, this is the first such series of incidents since Ghent introduced local administrative sanctions (SACs) in late May, penalising anyone who deflates car tyres without the owner’s permission, an act classified as vandalism.
“We have deflated one or more of your tyres. You may be angry, but don’t take it personally. It’s not you, it’s your car,” Tyre Extinguishers wrote in a letter addressed to the vehicle owners.
Through this action, members of the collective aim to raise public awareness about the social and environmental damage caused by cars.
