Brussels Region Joins Legal Case After Racist Hooligan Attack in Molenbeek

The Brussels-Capital Region government announced on Friday that it will join as a civil party in legal proceedings against Bruges football hooligans who carried out racist attacks in Molenbeek on May 4, 2025. The decision, announced by Brussels Minister for Solidarity and Equal Opportunities Ahmed Laaouej, marks a significant institutional response to what has been widely described as a “ratonnade” — a racist pogrom — targeting residents of North African origin.

According to RTBF, the Brussels government decided to join the judicial proceedings relating to the racist violence committed by several hooligans of FC Bruges. Laaouej stated that “beyond the direct victims, these acts of violence have harmed the institutional interests of the Region, its image as an open and inclusive capital, and the policies it conducts daily in favor of equal opportunities, social cohesion, and living together.”

The Attack: A Day of Violence

The violence occurred on the day of the Belgian Cup final between Club Bruges and RSC Anderlecht at the King Baudouin Stadium. A large group of Club Bruges supporters, primarily members of the far-right “North Fanatics 13” ultra group, arrived at Brussels-Central station around midday. They damaged metro doors, forcing a train to stop at Sainte-Catherine station, before proceeding on foot toward Ribaucourt in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean — a neighborhood with a large population of Moroccan origin.

The group chanted racist and xenophobic slogans and physically attacked people perceived as North African, including men, women, and children. In the most notorious incident, 73-year-old Moroccan shopkeeper Miloud Ziani and his son Iliass were severely beaten at the Brico Ben hardware store, which was ransacked. Attackers shouted “Where are the Muslims?” and “Go back home.”

As La Libre Belgique reported, the aftermath saw 80 people injured — including four police officers — with nine hospitalized. Police made 63 arrests on the day of the attacks and 14 more the following day, totaling 77 arrests.

Legal Developments

On May 2, 2026, the Brussels prosecutor’s office requested the referral of three identified hooligans to the Dutch-speaking criminal court of Brussels for assault and battery aggravated by racist motive. According to RTBF’s earlier coverage, two additional individuals face charges for property damage committed as a group.

By joining as a civil party, the Brussels Region can participate directly in the proceedings and claim damages. The government argues it suffered institutional harm — damage to its image as an open, inclusive capital and to the social cohesion policies it pursues. The move also required exceptional mobilization of public resources and deeply shook the sense of security among Brussels residents.

The North Fanatics 13 and Far-Right Extremism in Football

The “North Fanatics 13” ultra group, associated with Club Bruges KV, has approximately 200 members, with about 20 forming a hard core described by sociologist Jean-Michel De Waele as “real Nazis.” In August 2024, members made a “Kuhnen salute” — an alternative Nazi salute. Under pressure from Club Bruges, the group announced it was ending its activities, but De Waele expressed skepticism.

As DH Les Sports+ noted, the incident has reignited debate about persistent far-right extremism within Belgian football supporter groups. Club Bruges previously excluded 34 supporters for racist gestures, but critics argue the club has not done enough to prevent known extremists from attending matches.

Community Response and Resilience

The attacks prompted a remarkable community response. The collective “Je suis la Belgique/Ik ben België” organized a march from Molenbeek to Bruges — approximately 100 kilometers. Young people of Molenbeek created mosaics from the debris of the destroyed Brico Ben store, which were installed in both Molenbeek and Bruges station. On the one-year anniversary, 47 residents were named honorary citizens of Molenbeek.

Iliass Ziani, the shopkeeper’s son who suffered broken ribs in the attack, told VRT NWS: “Mentally it remains heavy, but we feel less alone now that the municipality supports us.”

Analysis and Implications

The Brussels Region’s decision to join as a civil party carries significant weight. It represents an institutional recognition that racist violence harms not only direct victims but the fabric of society itself. Legal experts suggest this could set a precedent for how Belgian institutions respond to hate crimes.

Minister Laaouej emphasized that the civil party status “does not prejudge the outcome of the criminal proceedings or its admissibility,” but sends a clear message: “Racist violence has no place in Brussels.”

What’s Next

The case now moves toward a hearing before the chamber of council, after which a trial date may be set. The three main suspects face charges of assault and battery with the aggravating circumstance of hate or discriminatory motive. Questions remain about whether other institutions — including the federal government and affected municipalities — will also join as civil parties, and what further measures will be taken to prevent similar incidents at future football matches.

As sociologist Jean-Michel De Waele told Brussels Today: “The Club Bruges tribunes harbor a hard core of Nazis, real ones.” The challenge for Belgian football — and Belgian society — is whether this moment of reckoning will lead to lasting change.