On the night of Thursday, July 3rd, a young German citizen was assaulted in Place du Luxembourg in Brussels, just steps from the European Parliament. The incident occurred at the well-known bar ’The Network,’ a popular gathering spot for EU officials, parliamentary assistants, and visitors.
According to the testimony of the 24-year-old victim, the incident began when a woman approached him and snatched a white baseball cap with the slogan “Make America Great Again,” associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump. After calling him a “racist,” three men, reportedly of North African origin, joined in, allegedly insulting and physically attacking him, leaving him with multiple bruises, facial injuries, and a head wound that required several stitches.
The young man, who was in Brussels for political meetings, received medical treatment at a hospital. He stated that one of the attackers was wearing an official European Parliament badge identifying him as an Accredited Parliamentary Assistant. This prompted a formal complaint from the parliamentary group Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) by co-chair René Aust. The group has called on Parliament President Roberta Metsola to investigate the possible involvement of someone affiliated with the institution.
Belgian police arrived shortly after the attack and have launched an investigation. Davide Quadri, political advisor for Lega in the European Parliament, was nearby and witnessed part of the incident. In a statement to europeanconservative.com, he said: “It’s concerning that political violence is increasing even in places like Brussels, where respect for democratic debate should prevail.”
The victim has requested to remain anonymous for safety reasons. “Physically, I’m feeling better, but I’m still quite dizzy and have strong headaches,” he told this publication. “I have a black eye and stitches on the back of my head,” he added. “We were just having drinks, and within seconds, I was surrounded by people insulting and physically attacking me. I didn’t understand what was happening.”
The 24-year-old victim is known in political circles for his close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, having attended several events at Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, as well as Trump’s 2024 election night and inauguration in Washington. His regular presence at high-level Republican gatherings makes him a notable point of contact for German and European politicians interested in U.S. conservative circles.
This type of incident reignites the debate over the growing political polarization in European institutions and the need to ensure freedom of expression in a safe environment for all viewpoints. If it is confirmed that one of the attackers had institutional access, the ESN group’s complaint could lead to an internal investigation in the Parliament.
The case has already drawn attention from political and media circles internationally, and if parliamentary personnel are found to have been involved in the attack, it could have broader ramifications.
Javier Villamor is a Spanish journalist and analyst. Based in Brussels, he covers NATO and EU affairs at europeanconservative.com. Javier has over 17 years of experience in international politics, defense, and security. He also works as a consultant providing strategic insights into global affairs and geopolitical dynamics.
