2023-10-19 18:19:00
The attack in Brussels, which cost the lives of two Swedes, has put the issue of Islamist terrorism back at the center of political concerns. This Tuesday, the Vilvoorde-Machelen police zone (VIMA) requested the complete reinstatement of the Canal Plan. “The attack shows that the threat is still alive,” she explains.
“Thanks to the Canal Plan, the VIMA police zone might count on the support of 20 full-time federal police officers, indicated the president of the police college, Hans Bonte (Vooruit), mayor of Vilvoorde. Since last year, this number has been reduced to zero.”
As a reminder, the Federal Canal Plan was launched following the attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. The objective was to establish cooperation once morest radicalization, violent extremism and terrorism in the canal zone, which includes seven municipalities (St-Gilles, Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Koekelberg, St-Josse and Schaerbeek, Vilvoorde, as well as Laeken). In 2016 alone, more than 100,000 residence checks were carried out as part of the Canal Plan, targeting “OCAM targets”. “If a targeted person requested a new address, this information was redirected to the local task force,” underlines David Leisterh, group leader of the MR in the Brussels Parliament. But today, this plan has been diluted. We need a new Canal Plan that focuses on radicalized people present illegally on our territory. And give priority attention to orders to leave the territory not executed.”
Abdesalem L., author of the Brussels attack, was ordered to leave Belgian territory.
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It is too easy to live underground in Belgium. Our country cannot be a refuge for terrorists or other radicalized profiles.”
“It is too easy to live underground in Belgium,” laments David Leisterh. Our country cannot be a refuge for terrorists or other radicalized profiles.”
The liberal draws a parallel between radicalized profiles and drug traffickers. “We must fight once morest clandestinity to know who is on our territory and expel all profiles who represent a threat without delay. To do this, we must flush them out. This is why a Canal Plan 2.0, with all the associated additional means, is necessary. I no longer want to hear that Brussels is the hub of European terrorism. We have to go and check, without sparing.”
Attack in Brussels: were there flaws in the work of the police and justice? “The criticism is shameful because we did the job”
To succeed, the proposal must benefit from political support and the necessary means… The mayors concerned would all be delighted to obtain more police officers. However, most of them lukewarmly welcome the prospect of a new federal Canal Plan.
“Before relaunching this plan, let’s first take the time to see the flaws that Monday’s attack revealed and determine how we can improve things. In this regard, the effective application of orders to leave the territory seems to me a measure at least as important, if not more,” points out Cécile Jodogne (Défi), mayor of Schaerbeek.
“I want a structural financing plan that corresponds to the police missions that we are asked to fulfill on the ground, not a Canal Plan or political one-upmanship,” adds Jean Spinette (PS), mayor of Saint-Gilles. For the Midi police zone, the question of the number of personnel available on the ground to monitor all risk profiles clearly arises.”
Ridouane Chahid (PS), mayor of Evere, is on the same wavelength and above all demands “that we provide the justice system with the means to monitor police work”.
Catherine Moureaux doesn’t say no
The mayor of Molenbeek is more open. “We need additional police officers,” assures Catherine Moureaux (PS) who deplores the significant reduction in the number of officers made available to her area. She calls for “refinancing of the area and strengthening of training at the federal level”. “We also need, at the same time, and much more quickly, a repositioning of the federal government in solidarity with Brussels. For example through the immediate provision of police officers, adds the mayor of Molenbeek. This second aspect, at the technical and legal level, might use the vehicle of the Canal Plan.”
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