Man stabbed to death on bus in Antwerp
A man died after being stabbed on a De Lijn bus in Antwerp on Monday. The police arrested a suspect quickly. The transport union ABVV-BTB says there have been many incidents on the line in the past and demands immediate structural measures.
The incident took place at around 14.30 at Linkeroever. In addition to the man who died two other people were injured, including the bus driver. They were taken to hospital for treatment. The police do not believe there is any connection between the perpetrator and the victims. Initial findings point to a random attack.
“Today's fatal stabbing is the sad low point of a spiral of violence that has been ignored for far too long"
The attack took place on a bus on line 36. In recent months, there have been regular reports of incidents of physical violence, verbal aggression and vandalism on this line.
According to ABVV-BTB, in the past six months, a driver has been seriously injured, buses pelted with stones and a seat set on fire. “Today's fatal stabbing is the sad low point of a spiral of violence that has been ignored for far too long,” the union said.
Visible protection
The union is demanding urgent negotiations with management, De Lijn, the city council and the police. In addition to the negotiations, the union is calling for visible protection of drivers at times of greater risk, via the police or security companies, and mandatory security on buses in the form of cameras, secure driver's cabs and bodycams.
"The safety of our drivers is no longer a matter for negotiation, it is an absolute condition"
It is also demanding an adjustment to the timetable of bus line 36 to avoid dangerous stops. “Enough is enough. The safety of our drivers is no longer a matter for negotiation, it is an absolute condition,” it says.
#FlandersNewsService | Police at the scene of a stabbing on a bus in Antwerp, 16 June 2025 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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