Violent incident involving Securail officers under investigation

An investigation has been opened into an incident of possibly racially motivated police brutality after two women were involved in an altercation with Securail agents at a Brussels railway station last week.

A Norwegian mother and her sister, of Congolese origin, were reportedly treated violently during a ticket check by several Securail agents at Brussels-North station.

The women wanted to buy tickets for their train journey, but the ticket machine was not working. When they reported the problem to the conductor and said they would buy the tickets on board, he reacted angrily and called security, remarking, according to the family, that "it's always the same with you".

The tickets had already been purchased on board before the police arrived, but according to acquaintances of the family, the security guards refused to listen to the women’s explanation and accused them of possessing false documents, ordering them to leave the train.

Video footage published by Sudinfo shows the women being violently pushed to the ground. One witness said he saw an officer hit one of the women’s head against a wall and try to grab her by the neck, after which the police handcuffed both women.

Other witnesses say one of the women started physically attacking an officer when he tried to issue a fine, after which the situation escalated.

According to family members, the main victim is still bedridden, with pain in her arms, head and back, in addition to psychological trauma. She has obtained legal counsel and has the support of a citizens’ collective, which plans to hold a protest against police brutality.

A lawyer for the women said they also plan to contact Unia, Belgium’s anti-racism agency.

The public prosecutor’s office opened two cases for intentional assault and battery: one against one of the women involved and one against a Securail agent.

“During the intervention, blows were allegedly struck by both the agent and the person involved,” the public prosecutor's office said, adding that no further information will be released as the investigation remains ongoing.

Belgian railway company SNCB said that it "deeply regrets" the incident and "takes it very seriously", launching an internal investigation of its own.