Belgium: 18-year-old woman stabs an illegal immigrant who was sexually harassing her friend, nearly kills him

An 18-year-old woman in Antwerp is making headlines after she stabbed a man who allegedly assaulted her friend, an act she claims was in self-defense.

Her 21-year-old friend, however, is fully backing her, saying; “I am grateful to my friend. Without her, it could have ended badly,”

The incident unfolded around 6 a.m. on a Saturday in Antwerp’s student district. The two friends were walking home from a nightclub when a 37-year-old man on a bicycle accosted the older woman. She, choosing to remain anonymous, but said the man “started making all sorts of sexual remarks towards me. I ignored him and didn’t react.”

Enraged, the man allegedly threw her bicycle to the ground, then grabbed her blazer, pulled her hair, and pushed her to the ground multiple times, according to French news outlet 7sur7.

It was then that her 18-year-old friend took a knife from her bag and stabbed the illegal migrant in the side.

Through her lawyer, Thibaud Delva, the 18-year-old confided to Het Laatste Nieuws: “We didn’t know this man. When he grabbed my friend by the hair and threw her to the ground, I intervened to protect her.”

Witnesses, alerted by the commotion, discovered the man unconscious in a pool of blood and saw the two young women fleeing.

A nearby nurse provided first aid before emergency services arrived, and the man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Currently, his life remains in jeopardy. The prosecutor’s office has stated that his condition has since stabilized and that he is believed to be an illegal immigrant.

Panicked, the two friends contacted the younger woman’s family, who picked them up and immediately drove them to the police station, arriving about two hours after the incident.

“We were in complete shock. We didn’t know what to do,” the older woman revealed. At the station, the 18-year-old immediately admitted to the stabbing but denied any intent to kill.

Antwerp prosecutor’s office spokesperson Kristof Aerts confirmed, “It was indeed she who struck the blow.”

Her friend corroborated the details of the physical assault and harassment she endured and was allowed to go home after a brief interrogation.

She explained, “They immediately separated us for questioning. But in the end, I was able to leave, and the police escorted me home.”

The 18-year-old who inflicted the stabbing was questioned extensively and later released on conditions by the investigating judge.

The young woman was reportedly deeply distressed and conveyed her regret through her lawyer:

“This should never have happened. You know, as a young woman, I’m often intimidated by men on the street. And that’s not normal. On the other hand, I also know that you should never carry a knife. It was a mistake. My reaction wasn’t appropriate. I’m going to start treatment,” she said.

This incident quickly became a major story on Flemish news sites and social media, with the two young women receiving widespread support and even messages of approval, which they acknowledged.

The woman who inflicted the stab wound stated through her lawyer, “I want to emphasize something: I sincerely hope that this man recovers quickly. My thoughts are always with him. Let’s be clear: he is the main victim in this case, not me.”

The 21-year-old woman, recovering at home from a bruised foot and a broken wrist, agreed: “I only wish one thing: that this man recovers quickly. But at the same time, I am also grateful to my friend. This man was really aggressive, and I was scared. Without her intervention, things could have turned out badly for me. I am used to men whistling at me or talking to me in the street, but this was the first time I was physically assaulted.”

Notably, a recent case in Germany featured similar details, with a many harassing an American woman stabbing an Eritrean migrant who sexually harassed her. She was convicted of manslaughter in the case, which many Germans rejected, arguing she had a right to self defense.