• An investigation has been launched into the suspicious death of a Palestinian man found bound in Antwerp’s Stadspark, with allegations of a possible racist attack or lynching.
• The public prosecutor is awaiting autopsy results to determine if the death was a murder.
On Wednesday evening, at around 6pm local time, A 26-year-old Palestinian man was discovered hanged from a tree in Stadspark, Antwerp. Arnwerp is a neighbourhood with a significant Jewish community in Belgium.
The man’s hands and feet were bound, adding to the severity of the situation. Authorities have stated that this strongly suggests he was murdered.
Despite the park being one of the most secure and heavily surveilled areas in Belgium, authorities have claimed that no witnesses have come forward or been identified. This lack of evidence in such a monitored area has raised concerns and questions about the investigation’s progress and the circumstances surrounding the death.
Authorities are under scrutiny as the community and observers await further details on the case, which remains under investigation.
The man was found by a father who was in the park with his daughter. The public prosecutor’s office is currently analysing autopsy results to determine whether the man’s death was due to murder.
The community is deeply concerned, with allegations of a potential racist/Islamophobic attack or lynching circulating. The man’s janazah (funeral) is scheduled for tomorrow, as the investigation continues to uncover the full details of this troubling case.
“The investigating judge, the prosecutor’s office, the forensic team, and the pathologist visited the scene on Wednesday evening. Subsequent analysis by the forensic team and the pathologist indicates that all possibilities are still being considered,” stated prosecutor’s spokeswoman Kato Belmans. “These will be thoroughly examined during the ongoing judicial investigation. An autopsy, among other procedures, is expected to clarify the exact cause of death.” Preliminary observations suggest that the body had been in the park for at least 24 hours.
It does not appear that the man had been reported missing to the authorities. The investigation is being conducted by the Aggression Unit of the Federal Judicial Police in Antwerp.
