Belgian soldiers stationed in Antwerp’s Jewish neighborhood detained a 28-year-old man Friday night after he allegedly threatened several Jewish residents with a hammer and attempted to assault an elderly Orthodox Jew.

According to Antwerp police, the incident began at about 8:20 p.m. on Lamorinièrestraat, one of the main streets in the city’s Jewish quarter. Police said the suspect threatened one person with a hammer, knocked an Orthodox man’s hat from his head, shoved a passerby, and threw traffic signs onto the ground before soldiers intervened.

The soldiers, who have been deployed in the area since March to help protect Jewish institutions and neighborhoods, restrained the suspect and held him until police arrived. No injuries were reported.

Police said the suspect is known to law enforcement for previous public nuisance and drug-related offenses. Witnesses said he attempted to flee after noticing the soldiers and had moments earlier tried to strike an elderly Orthodox man, missing him and knocking off his hat instead.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)