A memorial dedicated to the victims of the Brabant Killers was revealed at the Delhaize supermarket in Aalst, a day before the 38th anniversary of the tragic event that claimed eight lives.
On November 9, 1985, the Brabant Killers orchestrated a deadly attack at the supermarket, leaving eight people dead. The unsolved case has left a lasting impact. The octagonal monument, commissioned by Delhaize and crafted by landscape architect Bas Smets, now stands outside the supermarket as a tribute to the victims. Smets, known for designing memorials for the attacks at Maalbeek and Zaventem airport, incorporated eight ginkgo trees within the eight panels, symbolizing hope and resistance.
David Van de Steen, a survivor who was shot by the Brabant Killers at the age of nine, attended the unveiling. He expressed gratitude, stating, "Three sides and three trees now symbolize my family. In time, that's going to be all that's going to remain of the attack, as the case threatens to expire in 2025." Van de Steen lost his older sister and parents in the attack.
The mayor of Aalst, Christoph D'Haese, pledged not to let the unsolved case be subject to the statute of limitations in 2025. He emphasized the need for indefiniteness in cases of violent deaths, comparable to war crimes and sexual abuse of minors.
The newly erected monument in Aalst stands as a poignant reminder, situated between Delhaize and a pathway leading to Osbroek Park. The Brabant Killers, responsible for a series of violent attacks in the Belgian province of Brabant from 1982 to 1985, remain unidentified, making it Belgium's most infamous unsolved crime. Photo by Jaronax, Wikimedia commons.