De Lijn Inspector Strangled in Berchem Attack; Unions Suspend Ticket Checks

A De Lijn public transport inspector was seriously injured Saturday evening after four passengers allegedly attacked him during a routine ticket inspection in Berchem, Antwerp. The inspector was knocked to the ground and strangled, with hospital examinations confirming bruising marks on his neck. Transport unions have described the assault as “attempted murder” and called for inspectors in the Antwerp region to suspend ticket checks in solidarity.

The incident occurred around 7 PM on bus line 90 beneath the tunnel at Berchem-Station, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. Four De Lijn inspectors were conducting a routine ticket inspection when they encountered four male passengers, three of whom lacked valid tickets.

Escalation During Routine Check

According to Kim Bastiaens of the Antwerp police zone, the situation escalated after the third man was removed from the bus and police were called for support. “The previous two men, who had already been identified and checked, suddenly became aggressive against one of the inspectors and started hitting him,” Bastiaens told VRT NWS. “Then the third man also became aggressive and also started dealing blows to the inspectors.”

One male inspector was knocked to the ground and strangled during the assault. He was taken to Middelheim Hospital, where blood samples and examination revealed bruising marks on his neck, confirming a strangulation attempt. The inspector is expected to be unfit for work for at least one week and has suffered significant mental trauma. Four men were arrested and taken to the Mastergebouw police station in Antwerp.

Union Condemns Attack as ‘Attempted Murder’

Rudy Mous, union delegate for Synova (formerly ACLVB), did not mince words when describing the attack. “They took blood samples from the man and saw bruising marks in his neck, which allowed them to determine that someone had attempted strangulation,” Mous said. “Then it naturally becomes about attempted murder.”

Mous also renewed long-standing demands for better protection of inspection staff. “It’s terrible that people are so severely attacked while doing their job,” he said. “We are still asking for bodycams for our inspectors. They were promised to us but not yet delivered. And I don’t think it’s normal that inspectors are still sometimes sent out in teams of two.”

Jo Van der Herten of ACV Openbare Diensten - Vervoer emphasized the broader impact on staff. “Our colleague was beaten black and blue by the attackers,” he told VRT NWS. “It will take some time before he fully recovers. But we must especially not underestimate the mental impact of such an attack.”

Solidarity Action and Emergency Talks

On Monday morning, unions called on De Lijn inspectors in the Antwerp region to temporarily suspend ticket inspections as a solidarity action. The move, reported by Het Laatste Nieuws, was followed by emergency consultations with De Lijn management at 10 AM.

“We expect De Lijn to think about safety first and then about the numbers,” Van der Herten said, criticizing what unions describe as unrealistic financial targets requiring De Lijn to raise 30 million euros through ticket inspections. According to ACV, a team of at least four inspectors is the absolute minimum for bus inspections, with even larger teams needed for trams.

Bodycams: A Long-Promised Measure

The attack has reignited calls for bodycams, a measure promised to De Lijn inspectors for over two years. In May, the federal government approved a preliminary draft law allowing bodycams for public transport personnel, security guards, and firefighters, as VRT NWS reported. The legislation still requires parliamentary approval.

Flemish Minister of Mobility Annick De Ridder condemned the attack in the strongest terms. “This is a disgusting attack on people who are simply doing their job,” she said. “Inspectors and drivers of De Lijn must be able to do their work in complete safety. Verbal aggression is unacceptable, physical violence even more so.” De Ridder hopes for final federal approval of the bodycam legislation this year, with rollout beginning in early 2027.

Astrid Hulhoven, spokesperson for De Lijn, also condemned the violence. “This was a very simple inspection and there was no reason for those passengers to become so aggressive,” she said. “We of course condemn this kind of violence in the strongest possible terms. This shows a total lack of respect for our staff.”

A Recurring Problem

This incident follows another major assault on De Lijn staff in May, when five employees and two police officers were injured during a ticket inspection on the coastal tram in De Haan, as VRT NWS reported. That incident directly preceded the federal government’s approval of the bodycam draft law.

Despite these high-profile cases, overall aggression statistics have shown improvement. In 2025, 2,028 drivers and inspectors of De Lijn were victims of aggression, a 12 percent decrease from 2024 and the lowest number since 2019, according to data cited by Flemish MP Bert Maertens on his website. Of those incidents, 303 involved physical violence and 1,725 were verbal aggression, resulting in 3,477 days of work incapacity.

What’s Next

The four arrested men face questioning by Antwerp police as the investigation continues. The police have not officially confirmed the strangulation claim, stating it forms part of the investigation details. Passengers reportedly filmed the incident on their phones, which could provide crucial evidence.

For De Lijn staff, the immediate focus is on the outcome of Monday’s emergency talks with management. Union representatives have made clear their priorities: enhanced safety measures, the swift rollout of bodycams, and an end to what they describe as unrealistic financial pressure on inspectors. As Van der Herten put it, the message is simple: “People come before numbers.”