Police 'hunting' migrants on Brussels metro, group claims

Brussels' public transport network is becoming "a hunting ground" for immigration officers seeking undocumented migrants, the Citizens' Platform for Refugee Support has claimed.

The group has condemned an apparent plan for a major police spot-check operation on the Brussels metro on Monday, after an invitation asking journalists to attend the "full integrated police action" was leaked on social media.

According to reports, the police checks would involve several local police zones in the city as well as federal officers and the the co-operation of the Stib.

The Citizens' Platform believes police would accompany Stib ticket inspectors and ask to see passengers' identity documents. "Do we want public transport to become a hunting ground? A way of filling detention centres?" the group asked on Facebook. "On what criteria will these controls be carried out?"

The Stib said operations involving police on the public transport network aimed to reduce crime and help users feel safer.

Ridouane Chahid, a Socialist member of the Brussels parliament, condemned the apparent plan and said officers at the Brussels-North police zone should refuse to take part. "If this was a regular ticket check, then there is no reason for the police to be present," he said.