Milquet praises police for ‘magnificent’ day

Approximately 700,000 people in total attended yesterday’s July 21 festivities, interior minister Joëlle Milquet has revealed, based on information provided by the police. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all civil protection teams and all services who, for the past three weeks, have contributed to this particularly uncommon National Day," the minister said. "The popular outpouring has made this already highly symbolic day truly magnificent." Milquet said that security had understandably been increased compared to previous years. More than 1,200 police were mobilised and 300 to 400 medical personnel were deployed. Hats and 40,000 water cartons were distributed free of charge to limit the oppressive heat.  Brussels-Ixelles police made nine administrative arrests, including a group of four Flemish anti-royalists and a second group of five members the Congolese community, said commissioner Saad Amrani.