Borgerhout Stabbing Victim Out of Danger, Suspect At Large

An 18-year-old man who was stabbed during the Reuzenstoet (Giants’ Parade) in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout is no longer in life-threatening danger, Belgian police said, as the search for the attacker continued on Sunday. A second victim, aged 17, was taken to hospital with injuries.

The stabbing occurred on Saturday afternoon on the Turnhoutsebaan, the district’s main commercial artery, at the annual fair held after the parade itself had finished. According to VRT NWS, the 18-year-old was initially reported to be in critical condition before his condition stabilised. The suspect fled the scene and has not been apprehended.

What Happened

The attack disrupted a record edition of one of Flanders’ oldest traditions. The 314th Reuzenstoet had drawn around 25,000 spectators and more than 1,200 participants, and organisers described the day as having unfolded “in a positive and relaxed atmosphere” until the incident.

Police spokesperson Kim Bastiaens of the Antwerp police zone said a major investigation was under way. “A large perimeter has been set up and we will examine camera footage and hear witnesses to investigate what has happened,” she said, as reported by VRT NWS. No motive has been established.

According to HLN, witnesses reported seeing as many as three suspects fleeing, though official police statements referred to a single perpetrator being sought. The discrepancy had not been resolved in available reporting.

A Bystander’s Account

The most detailed eyewitness testimony came from the owner of a nearby restaurant, Bistro Frappuccino, who rushed to give first aid after a passer-by ran in shouting that someone had been stabbed with a large knife.

“According to witnesses, three suspects were fleeing. I only thought: I have to find towels. I ran across the street, got clean towels and ran straight to the victim to stop the bleeding,” she told HLN.

She also voiced frustration at the reaction of some onlookers. “It was about a human being lying there bleeding. But instead of helping, people took out their phones to film. That was NOT the moment to film. If you don’t help, then step aside.”

Reaction From Organisers

The parade’s organising association and the Borgerhout district expressed regret that the incident overshadowed the day. “We find it a great shame that this overshadows the annual highlight in Borgerhout,” said Koen Lamberts of De Reuzen VZW and Mariam El Osri, the district mayor, in a joint statement.

Both wished the victims a swift recovery.

A Centuries-Old Tradition

The Reuzenstoet and its Reuskens trace their origins to 1712, when Borgerhout residents began embellishing the local fair with fantasy figures — the giants Reus, Reuzin, Kinnebaba and Dolfijn — making it one of Belgium’s longest-running folk traditions. Today the parade is recognised as intangible cultural heritage in Flanders and draws thousands of spectators each September.

The tradition nearly faded during the last century as demographic and cultural changes weakened community life. Its revival began in 2012, when the Reuskens marked their 300th anniversary, and the organising body De Reuzen VZW was founded in the aftermath to run the parade and involve local groups. In a 2025 interview with VRT NWS, association chairman Koen Lamberts described its dual role of running events and preserving the heritage, saying the group also carried out “community-building.”

This year’s edition was widely billed as a record turnout, which made the violence at the post-parade jaarmarkt all the more jarring for a district that prizes the event as its annual celebration.

What’s Next

Police continue to examine camera footage and interview witnesses as they search for the suspect. Investigators have not publicly identified a motive, and it remains unclear whether the attack was targeted or a spontaneous altercation.

Key questions remain open: the identity and whereabouts of the perpetrator, the exact circumstances that led to the stabbing, and whether the witness accounts of multiple suspects will be reconciled with the official line. Authorities have appealed to anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.