Solidarity action in Molenbeek attracts more than 2,000 people

Between 2,000 and 2,500 people gathered on Molenbeek's central square on Wednesday evening to show their solidarity with the victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris. The organisers wanted to show that Molenbeek is a warm town, and not the hotbed for radicalisation as it is portrayed in the media.

The same square that was occupied in the last week by multiple television and news station vans following Friday's Paris attacks, was reclaimed by the residents of Molenbeek on Wednesday in a solidarity action, writes brusselnieuws.be

The square was nearly full by the start of the action at 17.00. Written on the ground was the word Molenbeek, with a peace sign for the letter O, and candles were placed all around. At 20.00, the crowd observed a minute's silence, before Molenbeek mayor Françoise Schepman said a few words.

Mohamed Abdeslam, the brother of suspected Paris attackers Salah and Brahim Abdeslam, joined the vigil by lighting a few candles on his balcony overlooking the square.

Molenbeek found itself in the eye of a media storm following the Paris attacks on 13 November, after it was discovered that several suspects had a link with the municipality. Several media then labelled Molenbeek as a “European hub of jihadism”.

© tvbrussel