The three victims were returning to their car, parked in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, on Saturday evening, after participating in Belgian Pride in Brussels, when they were attacked by three men. They ripped off the rainbow flag that the boy was wearing around his neck and then set fire to it, causing burns to the young man. They also beat his mother and sister.
Local police were alerted and immediately attended the scene. The three alleged perpetrators were quickly apprehended near the scene of the attack.
“The first statements from the victims indicate that a group of young people insulted the family because they were carrying a Pride flag,” said Sarah Durant, spokesperson for the Brussels public prosecutor’s office, on Tuesday. “The victims were also physically assaulted. Three suspects were arrested immediately after the incident. They were then made available to the prosecution and questioned. In the meantime, additional investigative acts have been ordered to determine the involvement of the suspects and shed light on the exact circumstances of the facts,” she explained.