Two people died and two were wounded in a series of knife attacks carried out on Monday across three Brussels municipalities. Authorities say the incidents occurred within minutes of each other and appear to have been unrelated so far, with investigators working to establish any direct connection between the events. Police and local media have reported a rapid, chaotic sequence that prompted a swift security response across the affected areas.
The three locations affected were Anderlecht, Saint-Gilles and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. Police sources cited tonight by local outlets and national authorities indicate the attacks happened in the late afternoon, separated by a brief lull of about half an hour before the next incident was recorded. The clarification from police that the cases are not officially linked has been emphasized as investigators assemble the timeline and review surveillance footage and witness accounts.
In Anderlecht, around 6 pm local time, a man assaulted two pedestrians and a cyclist with a knife within a short span, then disappeared from the scene. The victims were hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries; one victim’s prognosis was described as very serious, underscoring the severity of the assault and the suddenness with which it unfolded in a busy urban area.
The suspect, who is being actively sought by the authorities, was detected on a university campus in the vicinity, prompting an evacuation of nearby areas as officers attempted to identify and apprehend the individual. Later, the suspect was traced to a nearby metro station in Anderlecht, also located to the west of Brussels, where law enforcement intensified its efforts to locate the person linked to the assaults.
Minutes after the first incident, two additional attacks were reported in Saint-Gilles and Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, both resulting in fatalities. At Place Bethléem in Saint-Gilles, a person died after being stabbed in the neck around 6:20 pm local time, according to police summaries. The attacker fled the scene, and while motives remain unclear, Sudinfo cited reports suggesting the incident may have involved a confrontation or personal dispute. Authorities continue to investigate potential links and motives as the inquiry progresses.
A third attack occurred shortly after 6:30 pm on Rue de Koninck in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, near a homeless shelter, where a man was stabbed and pronounced dead at a hospital subsequently. The assailant in this incident was taken into custody, according to reports from police authorities. The evolving picture of the events is being pieced together by investigators, who are coordinating with regional security services and reviewing available evidence to determine any overarching pattern or intent behind the episodes.