Brussels firefighters were targeted with fireworks by the Flemish border on Saturday in an apparent ambush, according to spokesperson Walter Derieuw.
The incident occurred on Dikke-Beuklaan/Avenue de l'Arbre Ballon just before 20:30. Firefighters were called out to an external fire, only to find two waste containers ablaze. They came under direct horizontal firework attack as they began extinguishing the fires.
Quickly, the firefighters sought safety and exited the scene as the contained fires posed no threat of spreading. When police arrived, the perpetrators had fled the scene. The officers then completed the extinguishing effort.
According to the Brussels rescue spokesperson, the fire crew’s sergeant felt strongly that the incident was an ambush.
However, he also highlighted their relief that no one was injured and no damage was caused to their emergency vehicle, despite their bewilderment at this act of violence.
