Protests in Belgium have brought some schools in Namur to a standstill
In the Belgian city of Namur, some schools were forced to temporarily close due to threats that emerged following protests against cuts to education funding. Police security measures have been stepped up in the city center, and some schools have closed completely as a precautionary measure. Authorities are urging parents to avoid traveling to central areas.
In the center of the Belgian city of Namur, following the mass riots that occurred the day before, the situation remained so tense that some schools decided not to open on June 5, as security risks proved too high, and the police were forced to deploy significant forces onto the city streets to control the situation and protect public facilities.
The events began following protests that erupted over a decision to cut funding for French-language education, and by the very next day, the situation had escalated into a wave of threats directed specifically at schools and teachers, forcing school administrations to decide on temporary closures or heightened security measures.
Acting Mayor Charlotte Bazeler noted that following Thursday’s incidents, specific threats were made against educational institutions, prompting many schools to decide on their own not to hold classes, while others operated only under heightened security measures and with a police presence on campus. “Following Thursday’s events, threats were made against schools and teachers, and we were forced to respond as quickly as possible,” Baseler explained, commenting on the decision to impose temporary restrictions.
City authorities also advised parents not to send their children to the central part of Namur, although no official curfew was imposed, in an effort to strike a balance between safety and the city’s normal functioning.
The largest number of law enforcement officers on that day were spotted near key infrastructure sites—in particular, near the Walloon Parliament, the train station, and the entrances to educational institutions, which could potentially become targets for further incidents. The Brussels Times reports on this.
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