Forty cases of attacks against Belgian soldiers in 2017

Twenty-three verbal badaults and 17 physical badaults were reported in Belgium against soldiers last year, according to a response by Defense Minister Steven Vandeput (N-VA) to a question

Verbal attacks mainly concerned insults, threats and spittle.

Physical badaults were attempts to stab, steal equipment, but also the use of knives. " Due to the maturity, the restraint and the professionalism of our soldiers the incidents could be kept under control ," said Steven Vandeput