Swastika graffito on Brussels mosque sparks police investigation
A swastika was spray-painted on the façade of the El Mouahidine mosque in Laeken, Brussels, leading authorities to launch an investigation.
During the night from Saturday to Sunday, a swastika was found defaced on the front of the historic El Mouahidine mosque in the Laeken district of Brussels. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin denounced the vandalism as a direct assault on the faith and identity of Muslim residents, urging the justice system to set a strong example. Mayor Philippe Close announced that police have opened a case to swiftly locate those responsible.
The mosque, founded in 1980, is one of the city's longstanding Islamic centres. Officials emphasized zero tolerance for Islamophobia, racism and antisemitism on Belgian soil. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities seek to bring the culprits to justice.
Why it matters
The attack highlights rising hate-crime threats against Muslim communities and prompts a law-enforcement response in Belgium.
In this story
