Man Stabbed Near Ghent Festival Zone, Suspects Still at Large
A 19-year-old man was critically wounded in a stabbing near the Gentse Feesten (Ghent Festival) zone on Monday morning, prompting a large-scale police operation and manhunt for three masked suspects who remain at large. The attack occurred on Monday morning at the intersection of Ham and Sint-Jorisbrug, close to Portus Ganda in the historic city center of Ghent, Belgium.
The Incident
According to HLN, the victim sustained stab wounds “right next to the heart” and in the leg. His condition has been reported as critical. Bloodied clothing was found at the scene, which police cordoned off for a thorough forensic investigation.
Witness Ivanov Dimitar, a local resident, told reporters he saw three men fleeing the area as he stepped out of his home that morning. “They were masked and had a knife,” Dimitar said. “From the bridge I heard a young man screaming. I went to look and he had a stab wound right next to the heart and in the leg.” Two friends of the victim had initially fled the scene but returned shortly afterward, according to the witness.
Police Response and Investigation
Police established a large perimeter around the crime scene, deploying a forensic laboratory team and a diving team to conduct a thorough investigation. A forensic doctor was also appointed. The perimeter was lifted in the early afternoon, allowing traffic to resume normally.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office of East Flanders (Parket Oost-Vlaanderen) has opened a criminal investigation. Spokesperson Evelien De Ridder confirmed that the incident has no connection to the Gentse Feesten festival, despite occurring in close proximity to the festival zone. “The facts that occurred are in any case unrelated to an activity at the Gentse Feesten,” De Ridder stated.
A manhunt is currently underway for the three suspects, who were reportedly wearing balaclavas. The use of masks suggests a degree of premeditation, though investigators have not yet determined a motive for the attack.
Second Stabbing on the Same Morning
In a separate and unrelated incident, a second stabbing occurred on the same morning in Ghent. According to a separate HLN report, a man was attacked by his own brother at an apartment on Zwijnaardsesteenweg shortly before noon. Neighbors reported that the suspect struggles with mental health issues and may have suffered a psychotic episode. The victim sustained a cut wound and was hospitalized but is not in life-threatening condition.
Context and Broader Concerns
The stabbing comes during the 183rd edition of the Gentse Feesten, one of Europe’s largest cultural and music festivals, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the historic city of Ghent. The festival has already seen several security incidents this year, including a large brawl involving dozens of young people on its opening night and additional fights during the second night, with police increasing nighttime surveillance in the Veldstraat area.
P-Magazine reported that local residents have called for enhanced security measures, particularly during the festival period. Authorities have urged any witnesses to come forward with information.
What’s Next
The manhunt for the three suspects continues as the Public Prosecutor’s Office leads the investigation. Key questions remain unanswered: What was the motive for the attack? Was the victim specifically targeted? And what is the current condition of the critically wounded 19-year-old? Authorities have not yet provided updates on whether the suspects have been identified or apprehended.
The incident, combined with other recent violent episodes in Ghent — including a stabbing between Afghan groups at Graaf van Vlaanderenplein in January 2026 and an apartment stabbing on Steendam in June 2025 — has raised broader questions about public safety in the city, though officials have emphasized that violent crime remains relatively rare in the context of the city’s size and the scale of the festival.