Brussels merchant dies defending passenger from racist attack
Driss Atounane, a 54-year-old Brussels merchant, died after trying to defend a passenger who was being attacked on a tram in Evere. Struck violently on the head, this father of a family fell into a coma. His alleged attacker was incarcerated.
The incident occurred on Thursday, July 23 around 3:30 p.m., on a tram of line 55. According to the relatives of Driss Atounane, a man was insulting a passenger while making racist and Islamophobic remarks.
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The merchant intervened to defend the passenger. The individual allegedly struck him on the back of the head with a heavy object hidden in a bag, before continuing to beat him while he was on the ground.
Taken care of at the Tilleul stop in Evere, Driss Atounane was still conscious, but had no memory of the assault. Transported to the hospital, his condition then deteriorated. He fell into a coma before dying Sunday morning.
His intervention costs him his life
Driss Atounane was heading to his supermarket located at Place Liedts in Schaerbeek when he was attacked. A father of a family and entrepreneur known in the North district, he was notably active in the agri-food sector.
"He intervened with rare courage," his relatives testified to Sudinfo.
The Brussels prosecutor’s office confirmed his death. The suspect was arrested, charged and placed under arrest warrant. An investigating judge also appointed a psychiatric expert to assess his mental state.
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The investigation will still need to clarify the exact circumstances of the assault and determine whether the individual was also attempting to steal the passenger’s bag.
