A 21-year-old man arrested after a violent assault at a pro-Palestinian protest in Brussels appeared before the city’s council chamber on Friday, which extended his detention by one month, according to the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The suspect has been charged with attempted murder, although his exact motive remains under investigation. “The two men already knew each other and share the same nationality, but the precise cause of the incident is part of the inquiry,” the prosecutor stated.
The stabbing occurred on Sunday at around 6:15 p.m. on Rue de Laeken, near Place du Samedi. Hundreds of people participating in a protest against the war in Gaza were heading towards Place de la Bourse, a site of nightly pro-Palestinian gatherings, when a 22-year-old participant was stabbed.
The victim, reportedly from Gaza according to Belgian broadcaster VRT, was transported to hospital in a critical condition. While his life was initially in danger, his condition has since stabilised. The broadcaster added that the attack seemed to have occurred without any prior interaction between the two individuals.
Police quickly apprehended the suspect after the incident. He has been placed under arrest by an investigating judge on charges of attempted murder.
