Firemen were forced to flee after migrant youths in the multicultural suburb of Molenbeek, Brussels attacked them with stones and fireworks.
A house in the area even burned to the ground because firemen had to wait too long for police protection.
“We are really tired of this ‘New Year’s tradition,’” Eric Labourdette, a spokesman for the fire brigade union told Belgian newspaper HLN, adding “They call us for small fires and attack us while we want to help.”
“Clearly, no control is possible in that neighborhood,” said Labourdette, adding that youths started dumpster fires, repeatedly set fire to the suburb’s main Christmas tree while also looting local shops.