Unrest and Arson at Merksplas Immigration Center Injures Staff
A day of escalating unrest at the Center for Illegal Immigrants (CIM) in Merksplas, Belgium, culminated in an arson incident late Sunday evening that left two staff members suffering from smoke inhalation. The Immigration Service (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) has announced it will file a criminal complaint against the individual responsible for setting the fire.
Two Incidents in One Day
The trouble began on Sunday afternoon when a resident discharged a fire extinguisher in the recreation room, triggering a broader revolt among the detained population. According to VRT NWS, televisions and other property were destroyed as the unrest spread. Police arrived quickly and brought the situation under control without any injuries.
“It started with one person who rebelled and emptied the fire extinguisher in the residents’ group in the living room,” said Paulien Blondeel, spokesperson for the Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken (DVZ). “Afterwards it became restless in that group and a number of other people became involved.”
Later that evening, a resident in a different living group set their mattress on fire, generating heavy smoke throughout the building. The fire department, ambulance, Mobile Medical Emergency (MUG) team, and police responded en masse. An evacuation of several dozen residents was considered but ultimately deemed unnecessary.
Injuries and Aftermath
Two staff members inhaled significant amounts of smoke during the incident, as did the resident who started the fire. Het Laatste Nieuws reported that none of the affected individuals required hospitalization. “Two staff members inhaled a lot of smoke, but they are feeling better now,” Blondeel confirmed.
Regional broadcaster RTV noted that the damage to the facility was substantial, with smashed televisions and other infrastructure requiring significant cleanup. “It’s mainly about cleaning work, but quite a lot of damage has been done, such as smashed television sets,” Blondeel told HLN.
Legal Action and Investigation
The Immigration Service has stated it will pursue legal action against the individual involved in the arson. “The Immigration Service will file a complaint against the person involved in the arson. The police will further investigate the case,” Blondeel said. The investigation will determine the full circumstances surrounding both incidents.
A Pattern of Unrest
Sunday’s events mark the third documented incident of unrest at the CIM Merksplas in recent years. In March 2026, nine residents staged a revolt at the same center, causing material damage. A similar incident involving nine residents occurred in April 2023.
The Merksplas center is a closed detention facility for undocumented immigrants awaiting deportation from Belgium. Located on the Merksplas-Kolonie domain, a 600-hectare protected cultural-historical landscape that was formerly a vagrants’ colony, the center has a capacity of approximately 180 residents following a recent expansion. Around 100 people were present at the time of Sunday’s incidents.
Renovation Paradox
The facility’s Block 1 underwent a €5 million renovation from 2022 to 2025, completed in July 2025, which expanded capacity from 142 to 180 places and improved comfort and safety. According to the Belgian Buildings Agency, the renovation added 40 new beds. Yet unrest has continued, suggesting that infrastructure improvements alone may not address underlying tensions within the facility.
Broader Context
The incident at Merksplas occurred on the same evening as unrest at the Antwerp prison (Begijnenstraat), where several dozen detainees refused to return to their cells. This concurrent unrest raises questions about broader tensions within Belgium’s detention and correctional systems.
What’s Next
The police investigation will determine the full circumstances of Sunday’s incidents and whether additional charges are warranted. The Immigration Service’s complaint against the arson suspect marks the first formal legal step. Meanwhile, questions remain about what measures the DVZ will take to prevent future incidents at a facility that has now seen three major disturbances in just over three years.
As immigration and asylum policy remains a politically sensitive issue in Belgium, incidents like this are likely to fuel further debate about conditions in the country’s immigration detention centers and the effectiveness of current policies.