A shocking incident unfolded during a demonstration in Antwerp, Belgium, on Thursday evening, leaving six individuals injured due to a knife attack. According to police reports, this unsettling event occurred near the Operaplein, a public square in the port city.
Among the injured, two victims were reported to be in critical condition and required immediate hospitalization, as confirmed by police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns. The authorities swiftly detained two suspects who, based on preliminary investigations, had blended in with the protesters before launching their attack.
Local sources indicated that four of the stabbing victims were located within the square itself, while the remaining two were found in nearby areas, specifically around Rooseveltplaats and Sint-Elisabethstraat.
Law enforcement officials are treating the situation as a case of attempted murder, clarifying that it does not fall under the category of terrorism. They are currently reviewing CCTV footage to determine if any additional suspects managed to escape capture.
The protest, which began peacefully and drew approximately 50 participants, was held outside the Opera House in solidarity with Kurdish communities in northern Syria, where Kurdish-led forces are engaged in conflict against government advances. Demonstrators showcased flags representing the Kurdistan Workers' Party alongside national flags in support of their cause.
However, tension escalated shortly after the gathering concluded around 7:20 PM local time. Orhan Kilic, a spokesperson for Navbel, an organization representing the Kurdish diaspora in Belgium, recounted that families, including women, young people, and children, had gathered for the peaceful protest. He stated, "Just as the protest was disbanding, a group of men suddenly launched an attack against the Kurdish demonstrators. These men had infiltrated the demonstration and unpredictably drew knives, attacking individuals at random."
Kilic further emphasized that this assault seems to be a targeted act against the Kurdish community rather than a mere occurrence of random violence. In response to the attack, forensic officers were spotted working at the scene, and police have urged the public to steer clear of the area for safety reasons.
