Three knife attacks in Brussels last week, one fatal
Brussels saw three separate knife attacks last week, one of which was fatal. Two of the attacks took place in Duden Park in the commune of Forest on Saturday night, where young women were attacked for their mobile phones.
A young woman was stabbed in her left lung while she was walking her dog in Duden Park on Saturday evening around 20h00. Witnesses said the culprit had asked her to hand over her phone, after which they pulled a knife, Bruzz reported.
Police said she was able to make it to the nearest bus stop, where she was helped by bystanders. She was taken to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries, and is expected to make a recovery.
On Sunday afternoon, another woman was attacked for her phone in the same park. The victim detailed on Facebook how she managed to escape, according to Bruzz. “Today you tried to stab us in broad daylight,” she wrote, directly addressing the perpetrator. “Luckily I was able to use my martial arts experience and my Sicilian temperament to defend myself and you ran away. All I'm left with is a few bruises, but the other victims weren't so lucky.”
"All I'm left with is a few bruises, but the other victims weren't so lucky.”
The victim urged visitors to Duden Park to be careful, even if the suspect for both stabbings has now been arrested, according to the Brussels South police zone. “The public prosecutor has yet to officially confirm, but people should certainly not be afraid to go to the park.”
In Anderlecht one person was killed in a stabbing after an alleged alcohol-fuelled fight on Wednesday, the Brussels prosecutor's office reports. The suspected perpetrator has been arrested and questioned by the investigating judge.
Though the exact circumstances of the stabbing are not yet known, it appears a fight broke out in the Rue Eloy, Willemien Baert of the Brussels public prosecutor stated. “One of those involved was stabbed during a fight. He was taken to hospital, where he died of his injuries.”
Police were able to arrest a suspect shortly after the incident, who was placed under arrest on suspicion of manslaughter. The investigation is still ongoing.
illustration picture shows Parc Duden in Forest, Brussels. © BELGA PHOTO CHRISTOPHE KETELS