Brussels, January 23, 2026 – The Europe Today: At least six people were injured in a knife attack in Antwerp on Thursday night, with two victims now fighting for their lives in hospital, Belgian authorities said.
The violence erupted at Operaplein, a busy square in the city, where around 50 protesters had gathered to demonstrate against alleged violence toward Kurds in Syria, according to media reports.
Police spokesman Wouter Bruyns initially confirmed that four people had been injured, all suffering stab wounds. In a later update, authorities said: “They were all stabbed, and two victims are currently in critical condition.”
Four of the injured were found at Operaplein itself, while two additional victims were located at nearby sites, police said.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. as the gathering, believed to have been peaceful, was coming to an end. Police officers had already been deployed at the square with a patrol vehicle to monitor the demonstration, which had remained calm for most of the evening.
An eyewitness said the protest had been peaceful and was just ending when the attack took place.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security measures have been tightened in the area.
