Kurdish organisers in Antwerp have accused the Islamic State (IS) of being behind the stabbing attack at a protest in the city earlier this week, as Belgian authorities continue to treat the incident as attempted murder rather than terrorism.
The attack took place on Thursday evening after a demonstration organised by the Kurdish association Navbel to denounce violence in northern Syria. As previously reported, six people were injured when a group of assailants began stabbing protesters as the crowd dispersed, while shouting “Allahu Akbar.”
Navbel president Mazlum Kilic said the attack was a planned and politically motivated act aimed at silencing Kurdish voices. He said the attackers were carrying the new Syrian flag and accused IS of orchestrating the violence.
“The Kurdish community has fought Islamic State for years and is once again being targeted by jihadists,” Kilic said, warning of growing fear among Kurds in Belgium. He pointed to reports of a fatwa calling for the assassination of Kurds and the violation of Kurdish women, which he said had heightened security concerns.
Police arrested four suspects at the scene, though one has since been released. Prosecutors are continuing their investigation into the motive for the attack and are assessing whether it should be classified as terrorism. For now, the case remains under investigation as attempted murder.
Navbel has called on police, the public prosecutor’s office, and Antwerp mayor Els Van Doesburg to formally classify the incident as a terrorist attack. Organisers warned that failing to do so could leave minority communities vulnerable to further violence.
A protest planned for Friday evening was cancelled due to security concerns, but organisers have announced a new demonstration on Saturday to draw attention to the ongoing situation in Syria and the security concerns facing the Kurdish community.
