Two people were injured by two knife wounds in the centre of Genk on Saturday evening at around 8 pm, after two groups with a total of forty youths clashed.
Afghan youths from the asylum centre in Lanaken and Turkish youths from Genk sought to confront with each other. Two knife attacks occurred during the skirmishes. In the first stabbing at the train station in Genk, an 18-year-old from Genk was slightly injured.
In the Klokstraat, an 18-year-old young man from Genk was also stabbed with a knife. The young man was given first aid and was then taken to hospital. The young man was seriously injured, but his life is no longer in danger. The group of forty youths then made their way to the district of Kolderbos (Genk). The local police were immediately on the scene with several patrols.The police were able to arrest a total of 19 youths aged 15 to 25 from Lanaken in the Kolderbos district and on the Augustuslaan and Bilzerweg in Zutendaal. The youths from the asylum centre were taken to the police stations in Genk, Bilzen and Hasselt for questioning. The forensic laboratory carried out a thorough examination of the traces at the crime scene. After identification and questioning, 18 youths were released.
A 17-year-old suspect from Lanaken is still being questioned. The Limburg public prosecutor’s office will decide on his possible arrest at a later date. The police in Carma are conducting further investigations, it was announced on Sunday.