Did terror alert get Kortrijk police to overreact?

The incident happened last Friday when a 12-year-old boy lost the key to his bike lock. Together with three friends he attempted to open the lock using scissors. The police thought the youngsters were attempting to steal the bike and made quite a scene. Guns were pointed at the youngsters, who were pushed onto the ground, handcuffed and led away. At the police station two of the youngsters including a 13-year-old were told to undress so that police could make sure they were not carrying any arms. Images of the police actions have been posted on social media.

It took until Monday for the police to phone the youngsters' parents. Apo Dyenga, the father of one of the youngsters: "Nobody contacted us on Friday. When something like this happens they should contact the parents."

The youngsters won't easily forget what happened. "I felt like a criminal. The first night I couldn't sleep at all" one of the youngsters told WTV/Focus TV.

The Mayor of Kortrijk, Vincent Van Quickenborne, concedes that if you take the events out of context it does seem strange, but adds the police were acting under national guidelines.