On Thursday evening, an apartment on Praaglaan, in Antwerp, was struck by an explosives attack. The police have confirmed that no one has been injured, but an investigation is currently underway to determine whether the incident is related to the city's ongoing "drug war."
Residents from the municipalities of Hoboken and Wilrijk were said to have been woken up at around 05:00 by the explosions. Furthermore, both bullet shells and an unfurled banner were found at the apartment building, according to the city's Public Prosecutor's Office.
The police's forensics laboratory and bomb disposal service were on-site to investigate whether the attacks were linked to the rise of drug-related violent incidents in Antwerp.
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In recent months, the city has been marred by explosions and attacks due to its port serving as a popular passage point for drug traffickers.
The tense atmosphere was further worsened by the recent death of an 11-year-old girl, who was shot in the crossfire between two rival drug gangs.
As a result, regional, local and federal authorities have been racking their brains over how best to combat drug-related violence, with multiple politicians calling for the Belgian army to be deployed in the city.
