Mayor Audrey Henry takes strong measures to protect Schaerbeek: "The heart of a neighbourhood is not the drug dealers, but its residents!"

Following the fatal shooting on Friday 7 November in the Marbotin neighbourhood, the new mayor of Schaerbeek has decided to take action: designation as a HotSpot, a ban on gatherings of more than 5 people, and stepped-up police checks and surveillance. On the evening of Friday 7 November, a shooting took place in the Marbotin neighbourhood in Schaerbeek. This attack tragically claimed the life of a young man. According to the mayor of Schaerbeek, living conditions are deteriorating and residents' sense of insecurity is growing. "As mayor of my municipality, my priority is to ensure the safety, public order and well-being of residents in all of Schaerbeek's neighbourhoods, explains Audrey Henry. However, in the Marbotin neighbourhood, we experienced several cases of violence in 2025 that reflect a worsening of living conditions. With this latest shooting, the situation has become unacceptable for residents, and I cannot tolerate it!" As a result, the mayor has decided to take a series of administrative police measures aimed at restoring safety for residents. "Firstly, I have submitted a request for the Marbotin neighbourhood to be officially designated a regional HotSpot, that is, a neighbourhood where municipal and regional authorities concentrate their efforts to fight drug trafficking. This will also bring it within a regional legal framework allowing for various appropriate measures to be taken". "Secondly, I have decided to adopt several temporary measures: a ban on gatherings of more than 5 people in public spaces, as well as increased surveillance and identity checks. Should the need arise on the ground, I will not hesitate to impose exclusion orders on those causing trouble". The mayor is aware that not everything can be resolved through security measures alone, which is why prevention and community life are also on the agenda. On the prevention front, the presence of street workers and peace wardens will be reinforced over the coming weeks. As for community life, all sporting, social, cultural and association activities in the neighbourhood will continue. Finally, Audrey Henry wishes to reassure residents: "These measures will, of course, be applied with wisdom, insight and common sense by our police officers, so as not to prevent residents from going about their daily activities. I would even add that it is essential to keep taking part in these activities, which contribute to the physical and mental well-being of residents. The heart of a neighbourhood is not the drug dealers, but its residents! The criminals will ultimately lose this battle! We must keep on living!" Beyond the concrete scope of these measures, the mayor also wants to send a clear signal: "I want to defend every neighbourhood in Schaerbeek against the ravages of drug trafficking", she concludes.

Read the DH article on the subject