In the night from Saturday to Sunday, an illegal rave was shut down in an industrial zone in the West Flemish town of Menen, with an estimated attendance of 350 to 500 participants.
Police were alerted around 1:00 by a security service in the Grensland industrial zone about suspicious activities in an old warehouse near the Leie river, by the lock. Authorities, including police, fire brigade, medical services, and city services, quickly arrived to assess and control the situation. The owner of the warehouse was also immediately informed.
After discussions among the mayor, police chief, and organisers, it was agreed to end the rave early. The music was completely stopped around 6:00. People leaving the rave in vehicles were subjected to alcohol and drug tests.
“We take stern action against such illegal events. They not only pose a danger to the participants themselves but also cause nuisance and risks to the surrounding area. Thanks to constructive dialogue with the organisers and decisive action by our services, we managed the situation without incidents,” said Mayor Eddy Lust. “Such events are absolutely unacceptable. We will continue to take action against these illegal gatherings and evaluate how to respond even faster to future incidents.”
