Man arrested in connection with stabbing death in Evere

Police have arrested a suspect in the death of a woman on the street in Evere on Sunday evening. The woman was stabbed while walking home with her six-week-old baby in a pram.

The 36-year-old Mouniah was walking along Avenue Franz Guillaume following a trip to a shop at about 19.30 when she was stabbed in the neck. She was taken to hospital, where she died of her injuries. The baby was unharmed.

According to witnesses in the normally quiet neighbourhood, there was some kind of altercation between the man and the woman. They heard shouting and then heard the woman scream. Witnesses claim that the man was a stranger to Mouniah and had followed her out of a butcher shop and down the street.

Police carried out a search of the area for both the man and the weapon. They combed nearby empty lots and made use of a helicopter as it grew dark. An arrest was made, but police have not released the name of the suspect.

‘A drama’

Newspaper La Capitale has identified the man in custody as Andy K, a 21-year-old living in Anderlecht. According to the paper, he is well known to police, having already served time and been accused of some 25 crimes. Whether these were violent crimes is not known.

“The death of this young mother of three is a drama for her family, for her friends and for the municipality,” said Evere mayor Ridouane Chahid (PS). “We stand by them and offer all the support that they need right now. Women should be able to make use of public space safely. That is something we want to ensure.”

A witness told Bruzz that “nothing ever happens” in their neighbourhood. “It’s always quiet. A woman being stabbed here in broad daylight right before our eyes is so sad and shocking. It was a horrible image that will be forever burned into my mind.”

Photo: Police search an empty lot in the area of the incident
©Courtesy VRT