4 female American tourists that were visiting Belgium at the start of this month say that they were threatened by a man wielding a knife while they were on a train destined for the West Flemish city of Bruges. The tourists, 2 adults and 2 teenage girls, shared their story on the social media platform Facebook and in an interview with an American news channel.
They say that the man first asked them if they supported the US immigration and customs enforcement police ICE. He is then said to have taken out a knife with a 45 cm blade and said that he was also able to shoot “quicker than an American”.
Video footage shot by the women shows how they run away from the man in panic and get off the train. People on the platform approached the women and offered them help. One person offered to call the US Embassy. However, the tourists say that the embassy didn’t help them as it was closed for the weekend.
The Brussels Prosecutor’s Office confirms that there was an incident on 1 February. "On Sunday 1 February we were indeed informed that there was a person that was possible armed aboard a train at Brussels South station”
"The train was evacuated straight away. The suspect was arrested at the scene, taken into custody and questioned by police. The man was reportedly drunk. A search was conducted where the incident took place and no weapon was found either there or on the man’s person. He was released later that day”.