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Nine policemen got injured, after a fight broke out Thursday night in the centre of the Belgian French-speaking student town, Louvain-la-Neuve.
Around 2 am at night, two persons had a violent argument at Place de l’Université. The incident was taking place nearby a gathering of several civil police officers, celebrating the birthday of a colleague.
As some of the civil police officers approached the two arguing men, to try to separate them, military soldiers stationed at the Heverlee barracks, and seemingly drunk, also got involved in the argument.
Rather than defusing the situation, the soldiers violently attacked the civil policemen, throwing punches and kicks. Extra police reinforcement had to be called in from other police zones.
Nine policemen were injured, and three had to be hospitalised. Six soldiers implicated in the fight have been arrested and are facing charges.
Christopher Vincent
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