A total of 18,306,012.95 euros has been awarded to victims in the trial for the terrorist attacks that took place on March 22, 2016, according to Flemish public broadcaster VRT. Last week, the

Brussels assize court issued its ruling on the civil portion of the trial, determining the damages to be paid. The attacks at Brussels Airport and the Maelbeek metro station resulted in the deaths of 36 people and injuries to approximately 340 others.

While the assize trial for the bombings concluded last year, victims had been awaiting a decision on their compensation. The damages ruling, delivered last week, pertains only to the criminal proceedings; many victims had already received compensation from insurance companies in prior years.

A total of 1,023 civil parties claimed to have suffered damages, with only a few claims being rejected for procedural reasons.

The court’s 645-page judgment details the experiences of each civil party, the impact of the attacks, and the awarded compensation. The court’s rationale frequently includes references to “the circumstances of the attack,” “the loss of trust in humanity,” “the horror experienced,” and “the fear of impending death.”

In most cases, the court fully met the demands of the civil parties, according to VRT. Some compensation amounts are not yet finalized due to pending medical reports or the need for precise damage calculations. In such instances, victims were awarded an interim sum of 1 euro while awaiting the final assessment.

Compensation was not limited to individuals. The Brussels public transport company STIB/MIVB, for example, claimed civil damages and was awarded 1,547,893.52 euros. The Belgian state requested and received 2,601,386.13 euros, the highest compensation among all parties, with this figure being provisional as the total estimated loss amounts to 3 million euros.

Challenges in Receiving Damages While the determination of damages has been complex, the process of obtaining the compensation may prove even more difficult, VRT noted. The eight convicted perpetrators are theoretically responsible for payment, but they are unlikely to be able to provide significant financial restitution.

If it is officially established that the perpetrators cannot fulfill their financial obligations, victims have two potential avenues. Those with legal expenses insurance that includes a third-party insolvency clause can claim compensation through their insurance. Alternatively, victims can seek support from the Belgian government’s fund for victims of intentional crimes, which was established in 1985. Contributions to this fund come from individuals who are criminally convicted in Belgium.

The ruling underscores the scale of trauma experienced by the victims and highlights the challenges they face as they seek restitution for the lasting impact of the attacks. Photo by Romaine, Wikimedia commons.