While the public can be reassured that there was no real threat, the need for alertness and accurate assessment of safety risks on public transport remains a concern.
An apparently normal bus trip from France to Belgium turned into a tense police action on Thursday morning when the East Flanders Federal Road Police pulled over a FlixBus after alarming information about possible terrorist plans. This incident highlights the constant alertness needed on public transport, especially at a time when Europe faces an increased risk of terrorist activities.
The bus with 46 passengers, which was on its way from France to Belgium, was diverted to the Wetteren traffic post after a concerned report from a passenger. He claimed that three men were talking about a possible attack. This information was immediately taken seriously by the authorities. Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt confirmed this incident in a statement to VTM News: “A passenger on the bus noticed suspicious things and heard four men talking about an attack.”
The police immediately took action and escorted the bus to the traffic post. Upon arrival, a perimeter was established around the vehicle, and law enforcement began a thorough search. The outside of the bus was the first to be examined, and the entire bus would be further examined. There is a mine clearance service around noon DOVO arrived, but no explosives were found on the bus itself.
When asking FlixBus, it turned out that the driver checks the identity cards of all passengers before they board, a standard procedure that did not reveal anything unusual in this case. This raises questions about the effectiveness of current security measures in public transport and whether they are sufficient to detect such threats.
The situation quickly escalated when the police decided to take the passengers off the bus one by one and arrest three people. This rapid response shows the efficiency and preparedness of the Belgian security services in dealing with possible terrorist threats. The incident is currently under further investigation, with more details expected to follow.
release
After a thorough investigation and the arrest of three young men, the East Flanders public prosecutor's office has released them, a decision that raises new questions about communication and response to alleged safety risks in public transport. According to the lawyer of one of the released young men, the cause of the incident was only a "stupid discussion about a seat."
Lawyer An Van de Steen, the lawyer of one of the young men involved, says that the three of them were on their way to Zaventem airport to take a plane from there to Australia, where they were going to work. The response of the police services and subsequent actions, although based on incorrect information, underline the preparedness and efficiency of the Belgian security services.
