A 21-year-old man has been charged with attempted manslaughter following a stabbing at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Brussels on Sunday evening, the city’s public prosecutor has confirmed.
The motive behind the incident remains unclear. Authorities have revealed that the suspect and the victim knew each other and share the same nationality, but the specific trigger is still under investigation.
The stabbing occurred around 18:15 on Lakensestraat, near Zaterdagplein, where hundreds of demonstrators were marching in protest against the war in Gaza. They were heading to Beursplein, a central square where nightly pro-Palestinian gatherings are held. During the march, a 22-year-old man, reportedly from Gaza, was stabbed and taken to hospital in critical condition. Doctors have since stabilised his condition, and he is no longer in life-threatening danger. According to reports by VRT, the attack appeared to have happened without any prior argument.
Shortly after the attack, police apprehended the 21-year-old suspect, who was handed over to the prosecutor’s office. A magistrate has since ordered his detention pending an investigation. The suspect will appear before the council chamber on Friday, where a decision on his continued custody will be made.
