Interned man sets fire in prison: « He was then placed in a safety cell » (Ghent)
© FVV
An interned who is locked up in the Ghent prison set fire to his cell on Friday evening.
The psychologically ill man was only locked up in the prison in Ghent for a few days when Friday evening went wrong at 6 pm. He was alone in his cell and set fire. The fire team of the prison was able to extinguish fire, Kathleen van de Vijver, spokesperson for the prison system, confirms. The fire brigade and the police came to the scene for checking and findings.
« The interned man was seen by the medical service and there were no injuries, » says Van de Vijver. « The precise circumstances of the incident are being investigated, but it is obvious that there is a link with the psychological problems of the man. He is placed in a safety cell, where he is checked even more. »
Humane
The recent annual report of the Supervision Committee once again pointed to the degrading situations in the prison in Ghent. The psychiatric department takes place for 54 people, but the number of internees rose to 193 at the end of 2024. « The care team can only provide 70 internees, so that about two thirds cannot be treated. »
Read too.Report paints destructive picture about Ghent prison: structural overcrowding and fungus in showers
