Brussels Police Investigate Swastika Painted on El Mouahidine Mosque in Laeken

Discovery and police inquiry

A swastika was discovered spray-painted on the facade of the El Mouahidine mosque on Rue de Wautier in the Brussels district of Laeken. The graffiti was found during the night between Saturday and Sunday at approximately 01:00 on 13 September 2026. The City of Brussels and local law enforcement opened an investigation immediately following the discovery. Brussels Mayor Philippe Close referred the incident to the police, who are drafting an official report and examining footage captured by surveillance cameras in the surrounding streets. Close described the act as an offence of extreme gravity and announced that an investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators.

Site inspection and community response

Founded in 1980, El Mouahidine is one of the oldest established mosques in the Brussels region. Following the incident on Sunday morning, Brussels Regional Minister for Worship and Equal Opportunities Ahmed Laaouej and City of Brussels Alderman for Worship Khalid Zian arrived at the site to inspect the damage. The officials met with mosque administrators to express institutional solidarity and condemned the vandalism, emphasizing the explicit reference to Nazism.

It is totally unacceptable.

The president of the El Mouahidine mosque, Mohamed Karroun, stated that he was deeply shocked by the desecration of the building. Karroun urged authorities to identify those responsible and called for increased protection for places of worship across the city. Mayor Close confirmed that he would hold a formal meeting with Karroun to discuss security measures.

Political condemnation across Brussels

Federal and regional political leaders reacted to the graffiti with public statements condemning Islamophobia. Belgian Minister of the Interior and Security Bernard Quintin offered full support to the worshippers and the broader Muslim community in Belgium, stating on social media platform X that racism and hatred would face zero tolerance.

Attacking a mosque means striking at the heart of our Muslim fellow citizens in their faith and their identity.

Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès also denounced the defacement on X, categorizing the graffiti as an act of hate and offering solidarity to the Brussels Muslim community. Federal Member of Parliament and former Ecolo party co-president Rajae Maouane stated on Instagram that the act reflects an environment where racists feel emboldened, expressing hope that law enforcement will apprehend the suspects quickly.

Calls for increased security at places of worship

In response to the incident, Member of the Brussels Parliament Ridouane Chahid demanded immediate reinforced police surveillance and security around all mosques in the capital. Speaking to the Belga news agency, Chahid stressed that security protocols should be coordinated directly among municipal mayors, local police zones, and the federal interior minister to ensure worshippers feel safe during prayer.

We cannot ask the faithful to go and pray with fear in their bellies.

Police officers are continuing their monitoring operations around Rue de Wautier while investigators review the gathered video material.