Suspicious package defused in front of home in Antwerp district

Several houses were evacuated in Schoenstraat in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout on Monday morning after a suspicious package was found in front of one house, local police have confirmed.

Demining service DOVO attended the scene to defuse the package. Further investigations will be carried out to determine what the exact contents were.

Police immediately set up a perimeter and some homes were evacuated. Nearby residents were asked to stay indoors. It is not clear precisely what kind of package was involved, but DOVO deemed the situation sufficiently hazardous to take the precaution of defusing it and asking residents to evacuate their homes.

A trace investigation was also conducted at the site. After DOVO deemed the situation safe, the security zone was lifted, and everyone was allowed to return home. Further investigation into the contents of the package and the possible target will follow.

The city of Antwerp and its surroundings has been shaken by similar incidents more often in recent months. The port city in Flanders has become the main entry point of cocaine in Europe in recent years and has seen an increase in crime since. Whether this incident can also be linked to the drug milieu is still unknown.

^{#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO LUC CLAESSEN}