Fatal Tram Attack in Brussels: Key Witness Found
Federal police have identified a key witness in the investigation into the fatal attack on tram 55 in Schaarbeek, Brussels, where 54-year-old Driss Atounane died after intervening to defend a woman being harassed. The witness, who was himself struck by the perpetrator during the incident, was found on Saturday after police issued an appeal earlier that day, VRT NWS reported.
The Incident
On Thursday, July 23, in the mid-afternoon, a violent confrontation erupted on tram 55 near its terminus at Helmetsesteenweg in Schaarbeek. According to VRT NWS, a woman was harassed and insulted with Islamophobic remarks by a male passenger. Atounane, a well-known shopkeeper from Evere who ran several businesses at Liedtsplein in Schaarbeek, intervened to defend her.
The suspect turned on Atounane, striking him on the head with a heavy metal object he carried in a bag. The blows were described as being of incredible violence. Atounane was rushed to hospital, but his condition deteriorated rapidly. He died on Sunday, July 26, from his injuries, leaving behind a wife, a 17-year-old son, and an 11-year-old daughter.
The suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and placed in pre-trial detention. He faces charges of intentional assault and battery on a vulnerable person with resulting incapacity for work, and intentional assault and battery with resulting incapacity for work. An investigating judge has appointed a forensic psychiatrist to examine the suspect, who may have had mental health issues related to excessive drug use.
The Key Witness
On Saturday, August 1, the federal police issued an appeal for a witness described as a man around 40 years old with short dark hair, a beard, and dark clothing. The witness had also been struck by the perpetrator during the attack. Police confirmed later that same day that the witness had been identified and found, as La Libre reported.
A Son’s Pride
In an emotional interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, Sami, Atounane’s 17-year-old son, spoke of his father with unwavering pride. “I have no hatred. Really not,” he said. “I am only proud of him. That’s the only thing that counts.”
Sami described his father as a man who embodied civic duty. “My father showed what civic duty is. We can all learn something from that,” he told HLN. “He knew that woman not at all. But still he intervened. He has shown what civic duty is. We can all learn something from that.”
Earlier, in testimony to VRT NWS/BRUZZ, Sami had said: “My father was a hero. He spoiled me my whole life. I’m enormously proud of him, especially because of the courageous act he performed. He stood for justice. He didn’t want that woman to suffer.”
Sami also revealed that the woman his father defended had reached out to the family. “She came to express her condolences personally. That really did us good. She was very grateful for what my father did for her.”
Community Outpouring
Atounane’s death has resonated deeply across Brussels. Approximately 1,000 people attended his funeral at the Ettaouba mosque in Evere on Friday, July 31, with the mosque completely full and dozens praying on the street, as VRT NWS reported.
A mural honoring Atounane appeared at the corner of Zaventemstraat and Jules Bordetlaan in Evere, created by Brussels street artist Fouad Hachmi. It shows a large image of Atounane between clouds with the words “Whoever saves one life, saves all of humanity” - a reference to a verse from the Quran. The BRUZZ article also reported that municipal council member Mourad Maimouni has requested that Atounane be posthumously awarded a medal, with Interior Minister Bernard Quintin’s cabinet confirming they have contacted the relevant services.
A fundraising campaign started by Schaarbeek residents raised nearly 2,500 euros for the family before being temporarily suspended after contact with the family.
The woman Atounane defended, approximately 67 years old, remains deeply affected. Her daughter Soukaina told La Libre that her mother is traumatized and feels guilt. “Driss saved her life, but she is now dead inside,” Soukaina said. “Driss was an angel on my mother’s path. He is a great man who gave his life to help a stranger, without hesitating for a second.”
National Debate on Bystander Intervention
The incident has sparked a national conversation about bystander intervention and public safety in Belgium. Sami’s words - “Everyone looked, my dad did something” - have resonated widely. In response, VRT NWS published guidance from aggression expert Hilde Leonard on how to intervene safely when witnessing aggression.
“You don’t have to be a hero. You can never fully assess how someone will react,” Leonard said. She emphasized that intervention doesn’t always mean physical confrontation - calling emergency services, creating social control, or making contact with the victim are all valid forms of intervention. “I would like it if we could take more collective responsibility in the public domain to make it safe.”
Politicians across the spectrum have paid tribute. Hasan Koyuncu, future mayor of Schaarbeek, said: “Dying because you wanted to protect someone is an unbearable injustice. I hope justice will be done and that Driss’s courage will never be forgotten.” RTBF reported that Young MR Brussels called his gesture “a reminder that civic courage and solidarity still have their place in our society.”
Some residents have linked the attack to broader concerns about urban safety. Hamza, a 45-year-old resident of the Brabant neighborhood, told VRT NWS: “When will politicians wake up to address the safety problems in the neighborhood? What more needs to happen? With all those drug addicts, the area around the North Station looks like a zombie land.”
What’s Next
The investigation continues. The key witness’s testimony could prove crucial in establishing the full sequence of events. Whether Atounane’s death is directly linked to his injuries remains under investigation, as he had pre-existing health problems. Sami, meanwhile, remains focused on honoring his father’s memory. “What I want now? To keep honoring him,” he said. “Keep doing what he loved to do. Keep listening to his music. And just keep being proud of him.”