The names of the Maelbeek terror attack victims to be engraved on metro station memorial in 2019

Commemoration services marking the third anniversary of the terror attacks in Brussels on 22 March, 2019, will include the unveiling of a memorial to the 16 people who died at Maelbeek metro station.

Brussels transport authority Stib has confirmed to victim and family associations that a permanent memorial will include the names of the deceased, reports RTBF. The memorial - a plaque or a similar form - is a collaboration between Stib and Brussels Mobilité.

Behind the initiative is the Belgian association for victims Life4Brussels. Spokesperson Jamila Adda said in a Facebook post: “This gest is long-awaited by the numerous families of victims and the survivors.” Victims’ association V-Europe says it is also collaborating with the project.

The metro station currently contains a screen with messages of support by transport users and a black and white fresco by artist Benoît Van Innis. On March 22, 2018, STIB posted the victims’ first names on publicity signs in the station and other places in its network.

At Brussels Airport in Zaventem, a commemorative plaque was inaugurated in the departure hall on 22 March, 2018, as well as a monument bearing the names of the 16 victims in a nearby memorial garden. In total, 10 sites commemorate the victims of the 2016 bomb attacks.

Photo: Dirk Waem/BELGA