The Antwerp criminal court has sentenced 35‑year‑old Amin M., from Borgerhout, to ten years in prison for attempted terrorist murder following a dangerous vehicle attack in the city on the evening of January 17, 2025.
Driving at high speed through pedestrian areas in central Antwerp, he ran red lights and narrowly missed several pedestrians and cyclists, putting numerous lives at risk before being arrested. Initially charged with malicious obstruction of traffic, armed resistance and attempted murder, the case was later taken over by the federal prosecutor after investigators uncovered extremist material in his online history and on his Facebook profile.
Authorities established that Amin M. had been an Islamic State sympathizer since 2020, had shared propaganda, and was planning an attack. He even wrote on his cell wall, “The World Islamic State is coming soon.” Despite his lawyers claiming he acted out of depression and personal difficulties, the court ruled that the act was premeditated and ideologically motivated, concluding that he intended to spread fear among the population.
