Veerle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A neighbour from Veerle (Laakdal) stabbed a female resident in an argument that escalated this afternoon. Care staff transported the seriously injured woman to the Antwerp University Hospital (UZA). The criminal who attacked people is still at large while law enforcement searches for him.
Law enforcement found a woman who suffered knife wounds during a violent argument with her Laakdal neighbour in Veerle (Laakdal) . The victim received serious medical care at the University Hospital in Antwerp (UZA) because of their injuries. Law enforcement authorities search for a bald-headed middle-aged man who has a heavy build.
Emergency responders established a safety zone at the scene while police divisions deployed across the area to hunt down the perpetrator.
The incident happened at 12:45 PM in Veerledorp when they found the victim near her home on the street.
Witnesses revealed how the physical encounter between participants developed into violent hostilities that led to stabbing injuries. Police Commissioner Eric Cenens from the Geel-Laakdal-Meerhout zone stated every police unit is dedicated to finding the suspect.
The authorities released an official announcement which defined the attacker as a middle-aged man with a balding head and heavy body who wears blue jeans together with a grey sweater. The authorities mentioned that this person experienced walking difficulties. Nearby streets in the area continue to be limited, but the disruptions affecting traffic are manageable.
“All available police teams have been deployed for the search,”
says Commissioner Eric Cenens of the Geel-Laakdal-Meerhout police zone.
“We have also issued a search notice. The perpetrator is said to be a balding, corpulent man in his fifties.”
What is the crime rate in Laakdal and similar incidents in the region?
The Belgian municipality of Laakdal maintains less violent crime statistics than the urban city of Antwerp. Statbel (2022) reports that rural and semi-rural areas of Laakdal experience fewer crimes than the Belgian average and show higher rates of property offences compared to violent crimes.
During the past five years, Laakdal recorded sporadic cases of assault but has primarily experienced property crime instead. Police statistics from the Geel-Laakdal-Meerhout zone show knife violence occurs infrequently because only two cases appeared in three years before this incident.
Geel and Meerhout, alongside other neighbouring towns, experience sporadic violent incidents, but these incidents stem from private disputes rather than underworld activity. According to Eurostat data, Belgium registered 1,245 incidents of severe assault in 2021, and the Flanders region reported approximately 40% of the total cases. This recent stabbing follows nationwide patterns, showing domestic and neighbourly arguments tend to turn violent even though such incidents are rarely lethal.
The local police force continues its active presence and can arrive at urgent incidents while maintaining response times below 10 minutes. The current investigation follows standard guidelines for high-profile suspects through people alerts and traffic inspections. According to police records, previous similar incidents in the region were resolved through arrests made within forty-eight hours.
