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Police and firefighters support soldier caught Christmas shopping
A soldier caught by a passer-by doing Christmas shopping while on duty has received the support of members of the emergency services. The soldier, photographed by a member of the public on De Brouckèreplein in Brussels carrying a shopping bag, has been suspended from his duties.
Belgium’s military is currently deployed in the capital while the terror alert remains at level three. Soldiers are deployed at strategic locations, as well as places that might be targets for terrorist attacks.
One soldier was photographed by a member of the public walking down the street with a bag from the personal grooming shop Rituals while on patrol with a colleague, with both men armed with automatic rifles and handguns.
The army authorities immediately identified the soldier and suspended him from his duties on the grounds of unprofessional conduct. “Unbelievable what an impact that photo has had,” the soldier, who prefers to remain anonymous, posted on the Facebook page of David Antoine, a French speaking radio host.
He received support from the police, some of whom allowed themselves to be photographed for the occasion walking down the street with shopping bags. Members of the fire service joined in. “We want to show our support for the man, who’s doing the same job we do,” said one fireman on VTM News. “All the fuss is a bit over the top.”
“Sometimes you have no choice but to hop in and do some shopping during your shift, because we’re on duty for so long,” said another. “We’re still always ready to help the people who need us, though.”
Meanwhile, police have detained two people in connection with terrorist offences, following police raids on Sunday and Monday. They are suspected of planning terrorist attacks on “symbolic” targets in Brussels, like the Grote Markt and police stations.
The VRT reports that the raids centred on Brussels, Flemish Brabant and the Liège area. Six people were held for questioning, with four later freed. Two appeared before an examining magistrate and were arrested, accused of belonging to a terrorist group. No link has been established between the arrests and the attacks in Paris on 13 November.
Photo courtesy lizzprintz/Twitter
Comments
The soldier made a mistake and was reprimanded. That was the appropriate response from his superiors.
Can you imagine a situation in the United States or the United Kingdom or France where the anti-terror squad is caught shopping whilst holding semi-automatic weapons? Why should Belgium be any different? This country ought to 'grow up' and recognise the terror threat and take it seriously. Maybe this latest scare has been a wake-up call. Maybe not. Judging from reaction of the soldier's comrades, it would appear not.
The soldier ought to have accepted the reprimand instead of calling attention to himself on Facebook (in other words, playing the victim). This is a lapse of judgment, perhaps.
What is however completely unacceptable and thoroughly unprofessional is for the other services promoting public order and security (police, fire) to suddenly flout authority and their internal rules by breaking them - and going shopping whilst on duty!!!
How is the public supposed to respect this authority when it doesn't respect itself?
Belgium is an outlier in the European security network according to security experts (and we don't need experts to tell us that, considering that Belgium exports jihadists with apparent ease).
Plus ça change....
Gellis: Get a life!
The soldier is not a member of an anti-terror squad.
As for your last paragraph, why don't you do some research on real facts instead of repeating nonsense from "security experts" who just happen to be trying to deflect blame from themselves.
Of course it is completely out of line that the soldier decided to do some shopping whilst on duty. The army have taken the correct line in suspending the soldier although it would have been better if the level of discipline was higher in the first place. What is quite alarming is that the soldier thought this was perfectly OK, then the other emergency services gave him their approval. No wonder Belgium is not taken seriously.
Shopping, orgies, whatever.