Brussels bombings

Belgium recently marked the tenth anniversary of the 2016 Brussels bombings, a series of Islamist terrorist attacks that claimed numerous lives. King Philippe, alongside Queen Mathilde and other officials, led commemorations at a memorial in the European quarter, emphasizing the nation's resilience against fear and division. A significant recent development highlighted by the anniversary is the recognition of Katarina Viktorsson as the 36th victim. Viktorsson, whose mother died in the Zaventem airport attack, died by suicide in early 2026, a decade after the bombings. Her name has now been added to the memorial at Zaventem airport. This event continues to be relevant as it represents a significant act of terrorism on European soil, impacting national memory and security considerations. The ongoing process of recognizing victims, even those whose deaths occurred years later due to the trauma, underscores the long-lasting consequences of such attacks.