Norwegian prosecutors are seeking jail terms for a group of Belgian soldiers who were involved in a brawl while training in Norway last winter. They’ve already been subjected to a court trial after being charged with inflicting serious bodily injury.
The violence took place in the town of Åndalsnes in February, after the soldiers had made a weekend visit to a bar during the military exercise Arctic Training. They ended up in a street brawl outside the bar, during which four Norwegians were injured.
The Norwegians were determined to have the legal status as plaintiffs in the case. Prosecutors are now seeking jail terms of 21- to 60 days for the Belgian defendants, as their trial ended in the Møre og Romsdal Court. All eight defendants had earlier apologized for their behaviour and plead not guilty to the charges against them.
The case made headlines in Norway because of all the international military forces now in the country on various NATO- and bilateral training missions. Those participating are supposed to be allies, and not fighting amongst themselves.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
