Antwerp Man Interned for Homophobic Stabbing of Neighbor

A 34-year-old Antwerp resident, identified as Daniel D., has been ordered by the Antwerp court to be interned in a closed psychiatric facility for the attempted murder of his 62-year-old neighbor in a homophobic attack. The victim was stabbed approximately 40 times in the face, neck, and throat on October 16, 2025, in what the court described as a premeditated hate crime. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, the perpetrator’s own cellmate warned that he was a “ticking time bomb.”

The Attack

The attack took place on the evening of October 16, 2025, at an apartment building on Belgiëlei in Antwerp. The victim, a gay man living with his partner, was leaving to walk his dog when he encountered Daniel D. in the building’s entrance hall. Armed with two knives, Daniel D. attacked him without warning. The victim fled onto the street, but the perpetrator pursued him, continuing to strike with the knives until bystanders intervened and overpowered him.

Members of the Jewish community safety organizations Shmira and Hatzolah provided assistance at the scene, as VRT NWS reported at the time. Police confirmed the two men knew each other and lived in the same building, and that the victim was not in life-threatening danger despite his severe injuries.

Evidence of Premeditation

The court upgraded the charge from attempted manslaughter to attempted murder, citing multiple factors that demonstrated premeditation. Daniel D. knew the victim’s routine of walking his dog between 10 and 11 PM. He brought two knives to the entrance hall and lay in wait. Crucially, the court noted that Daniel D. had searched online for information about the LGBTQ+ community hours before the attack.

There was also a documented history of homophobic harassment. According to the prosecutor, Daniel D. had previously called the victim and his partner “homo” (gay) and made feinting movements as if to headbutt them. “He targeted the gay couple, whose presence he could not tolerate,” the prosecutor stated in court.

The Internment Decision

The court ruled that Daniel D. should be interned rather than imprisoned, classifying the measure as a safety measure rather than a criminal sentence. Under Belgian law, internment is designed to protect society from dangerous individuals who suffer from a mental disorder at the time of their offense. It is of indefinite duration, with release requiring judicial approval based on psychiatric evaluation.

The decision was influenced by evidence of mental disorder: Daniel D. had received antipsychotic medication following a previous conviction, which had a positive effect on his behavior. He refused to participate in a psychiatric evaluation. Both his mother and his cellmate had warned that he was radicalizing and inciting others to homophobia. “He is a ticking time bomb,” his cellmate told the court.

Defense lawyer Nonna Azarian argued for a lesser charge of assault, stating that “the intent to kill has not been proven. No vital parts were hit and the victim was not in life-threatening danger.” The prosecutor, after observing the defendant in court, ultimately preferred internment over a nine-year prison sentence.

Impact on the Victim

The victim and his partner remain deeply traumatized by the attack. Their lawyer, Bart Verbelen, told the court: “The victim and his partner are still very affected by the facts. They didn’t dare come to court today. They are so afraid that they even want to move abroad.”

The victim received a provisional damages award of €7,500, and a forensic doctor is investigating whether he has suffered permanent consequences from the attack.

Systemic Concerns

The case raises significant questions about how Belgium monitors individuals showing signs of radicalization to homophobia. Despite warnings from family and a cellmate, Daniel D. was able to escalate from harassment to extreme violence. Belgium has been condemned multiple times by the European Court of Human Rights for its internment policy, including a pilot judgment in 2016, due to inadequate treatment conditions and prolonged detention in prison psychiatric wings rather than specialized forensic psychiatric centers.

What’s Next

Daniel D. will be confined and treated in a closed psychiatric institution for an indefinite period. His release will depend on future psychiatric evaluations assessing whether he remains a danger to society. The case continues to fuel debate in Belgium about the effectiveness of monitoring systems for individuals who show signs of radicalization, and the adequacy of support for hate crime victims.